PB96-<780 309
EPA530-R-95-062
November 1995
RCRA/UST, Superfund, & EPCRA
Hotline Training Module
Introduction to:
Used Oil
(40 CFR Part 266, Subparts E, and Part 279)
Updated as of July 1995
DISCLAIMER
This document was developed by Booz-Allen & Hamilton Inc. under
contract 68-WO-0039 to EPA. It is intended to be used as a
training tool for Hotline specialists and does not represent a
statement of EPA policy. *
The information in this document is not by any means a .complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies. This document
is used only in the capacity of Hotline training and is not used
as a reference tool on Hotline calls. The Hotline revises and
updates this document as regulatory program areas change.
The information in this document may not necessarily reflect the
current position of the Agency. This document is_not intended
and cannot be relied upon to create any rights, substantive or
procedural, enforceable by any party litigation with the United
States.
RCRA/UST, Superfund & EPCRA Phone Numbers:
National, toll-free (outside of DC area)	(800) 424-9346
Local number (within DC area)	(703) 412-9810
National toll-free for the hearing impaired (TDD) (800) 553-7672
The Hotline is open from 9 am to 6 pm Eastern Standard Time,
Monday through Friday, except for federal holidays.

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USED OIL
CONTENTS
1.	Introduction 		1
2.	Regulatory Summary 	 ....	3
2.1	History and Background 		3
2.2	Current Program 		4
2.3	Former Program 		19
3.	Special Issues		25
3.1	Used Oil Filters 		25
3.2	Tank Storage of Used Oil 		25
3.3	CERCLA Liability Exemption for Service Stations	26
3.4	Effective Date and State Authorization ...	26
3.5	Used Oil Mixture Rule		27

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Used Oil - 1
1. INTRODUCTION
This module reviews the various regulatory requirements
associated with used oil management. Congress passed the Used
Oil Recycling Act (UORA) in 1980, requiring EPA to make a
determination about the hazards of used oil, as well as develop a
regulatory scheme to ensure proper management and disposal
practices. The provisions of the UORA were incorporated into
§3014 of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA;
however, used oil emerged as a separate issue apart from
hazardous waste. In developing regulations for used oil EPA has
endeavored to balance the RCRA mandate to protect human health
and the environment with its desire to encourage used oil
recycling.
The present used oil regulations were finalized on September 10,
1992, fulfilling the statutory requirement of RCRA §3014. Many
aspects of this rule parallel the hazardous waste management
standards establishing requirements for generators, transporters,
transfer facilities, collection centers, processors and re-
refiners, burners, and marketers in 40 CFR Part 279. The rule
also includes provisions for cleanup in the case of a spill or
release of used oil. Prior to the promulgation of these
standards, the used oil regulations were codified at Part 266,
Subpart E. This program, published in the November 29, 1985,
Federal Register and administered pursuant to RCRA §3004(q),
primarily regulated used oil that is recycled by being burned for
energy recovery. This program, although superseded on the
federal level by Part 279, remains in effect in many authorized
states. As a result, some states are operating under the present
program and others are operating under the former program. For
this reason it is critical to be well-versed in both used oil
programs.
The goal of this training module is to provide an overview of the
used oil management program and to explain the different
regulatory scenarios that can apply to used oil. The module
begins by briefly tracing the developmental history of the
regulations concerning used oil. A summary of the present used
oil management program, as well as a brief summary of the former
program, provides a basic comparison and introduction to both
programs. After you complete the training session, you should be
able to:
• Distinguish between the used oil management standards of
Part 279 and the former used oil regulations under Part
266, Subpart E
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation-of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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2 - Used Oil
•	Identify the different types of used oil handlers and
their requirements under the used oil management
standards, and summarize the requirements for the used
oil handlers regulated under the former program
•	Explain the difference between on- and off-specification
used oil
•	Distinguish between the recycling presumption and the
rebuttable presumption
•	Describe how the present regulations will become
effective in both authorized and unauthorized states
•	Explain under what circumstances used oil filters may be
disposed of as nonhazardous
•	Describe the four pathways of potential regulation of
used oil under the former program and compare differences
with the present used oil management standards.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hot-line training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 3
2. REGULATORY SUMMARY
This summary of the regulatory provisions affecting the
management of used oil for the former and present used oil
programs provides some basic references and definitions which
will be encountered throughout the module. The present program,
promulgated in the September 10, 1992, Federal Register (57
41566), is codified in Parts 261 and 279. Used oil is defined in
§279.1 as any oil that has been refined from crude oil (or
synthetic oil), that has been used and as result of such use is
contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. Types of oils
included in this definition are spent automotive lubricating
oils, hydraulic fluids, compressor oils from refrigeration units,
and metal working oils. The former used oil program defined used
oil similarly, except that synthetic oils were not explicitly
included in the definition. Though the former program was
significantly more narrow in scope than the present program,
several concepts were retained through the transition of the
programs and will be discussed in more detail later in the
module. Although the former program is no longer in the CFR, the
preamble to the final rule promulgated in the November 29, 1985,
Federal Register (50 FR 49164) provides useful background and
regulations that are still in effect in many states. The
following discussion in section 2.1 addresses the history and
background of the used oil regulations.
2.1 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
HSWA §3 014 required EPA to decide whether or not to list used oil
(or certain types of used oil) as regulated hazardous waste under
RCRA. On November 29, 1985, EPA issued a proposed rule to list
all used oil as hazardous waste, including petroleum-derived and
synthetic oils (50 FR 49164). On the same day management
standards were proposed for recycled used oil and final
regulations were issued prohibiting burning off-specification
used oil in nonindustrial boilers and furnaces. By November 19,
1986, EPA decided not to list used oil, primarily because of the
possibility that characterizing used oil as a hazardous waste
might discourage or hinder recycling practices (51 FR 41900).
A court decision in 1988 required EPA to reconsider listing used
oil based on the technical criteria for waste listings specified
in the statute, rather than the effects listing might have on the
competing goal of recycling. Consequently, a supplemental
proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 23,
1991, offered three options for regulating used oil recycling (56
FR 48000). The first option was to identify all used oils as
listed hazardous waste under RCRA. Alternatively, EPA could have
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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4 - Used Oil
designated only certain used oils (primarily the nonindustrial
ones) as hazardous. The third option was to promulgate basic
management standards for used oil, and only categorize used oil
as RCRA hazardous waste when disposed of.
Prior to making a final determination on the approach to recycled
used oil regulation, the final rule of May 20, 1992, stated that
used oil destined for disposal is not listed as a hazardous waste
(57 FR 21524). EPA said that most used oil has the potential to
be recycled, either through re-refining or burning for energy
recovery, and that when destined for disposal, the existing
network of regulations provides adequate protection from
plausible mismanagement scenarios. Additionally, an exclusion
was added under §261.4(b)(13) stating that certain used oil
filters that have been properly drained may be disposed of as
nonhazardous (see Section 2.4 for discussion). The Agency
deferred the listing decision on used oil destined for recycling
at this time and also deferred any decision on management
standards as well as the proposed K-listed wastes from the
petroleum re-refining industry.
On September 10, 1992, EPA promulgated both a final listing
decision for recycled used oil and management standards for used
oil pursuant to RCRA §3014 (57 FR 42566) . The Agency decided not
to list recycled used oils because the management standards
issued in this rulemaking would adequately protect human health
and the environment. These present standards affect generators,
transporters, burners, marketers, processors, and-re-refiners of
used oil. Part 279 was added to codify the management standards.
In this rule, the Agency stated that it assumes all used oil will
be recycled until the used oil is disposed of or sent for
disposal (57 FR 41578). Used oil that is disposed of will need
to be characterized like any other solid waste and need to_ be
managed as hazardous if it exhibits a characteristic of hazardous
waste or if it is mixed with a listed hazardous waste.
2.2 CURRENT PROGRAM
The present program is centered around the presumption that most
used oil will be recycled instead of disposed. This means that
virtually all used oil will be subject to the same management
standards under Part 279. The former program did not make this
presumption and therefore imposed variable requirements for used
oil management. The current used oil regulations increased the
requirements that used oil handlers must fulfill. The recycled
used oil management regulations in many ways parallel the
hazardous waste regulations.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 5
RECYCLING PRESUMPTION
In the September 23, 1991, supplemental notice of proposed
rulemaking, the Agency first introduced the idea of the recycling
presumption (56 FR 48000). According to industry data collected
by the Agency, a majority of used oil that enters the recycling
system ends up being recycled either by being burned for energy
recovery or by being re-refined. These data led to the recycling
presumption, which is a regulatory provision that presumes used
oil will be recycled.
In cases where used oil handlers cannot recycle their used oil,
the Agency proposed different criteria for rebutting the
recycling presumption. In the September 10, 1992, final rule,
however, EPA decided that establishing specific criteria was not
feasible or necessary. Because the Agency assumes all used oil
will be recycled, it is only when used oil is sent for disposal
that it is no longer subject to the Part 279 standards. The
recycling presumption simplifies the used oil management system
by ensuring that handlers may comply with one set of standards
(57 FR 41578).
USED OIL V. OILY WASTE
Used oil is defined as any oil that was refined from crude oil or
any synthetic oil, and that is used and as a result of such use
is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. Used oil and
waste oil are not interchangeable terms. Waste oil or oily waste
does not always meet the definition of used oil. Bottom waste
from an oil storage tank or virgin oil spill residue may be
contaminated with impurities but still not meet the definition in
§279.1 because these materials have never been used.
REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION
Mixtures of hazardous waste and used oil ordinarily, would be
classified as hazardous waste. From an enforcement point of
view, however, the Agency cannot always determine if used oil has
been mixed with a hazardous waste so EPA decided to use an
objective test. Since hazardous spent halogenated solvents were
often found to be mixed with used oil, EPA established the
"rebuttable presumption" addressing halogen level. The concept
of the rebuttable presumption was established in the former
regulations, and its basic premise is retained in the present
program.
Used oil that contains more than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of
total halogens is presumed to have been mixed with a regulated
halogenated hazardous waste (i.e., spent halogenated solvents),
and is therefore subject to applicable hazardous waste
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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6 - Used Oil
regulations. A person may rebut this presumption by
demonstrating, through analysis or other documentation, that the
used oil has not been mixed with halogenated hazardous waste.
One way of doing this is to show that the used oil does not
contain significant concentrations of halogenated hazardous
constituents (50 £R 49176; November 29, 1985). If the
presumption is successfully rebutted, meaning the oil is not
considered to have been mixed with a regulated hazardous waste,
then it will be subject to the used oil management standards
instead of the hazardous waste regulations.
The Agency believes, however, that some oils can become
contaminated with more than 1,000 ppra halogens just through the
normal use of the oil, without actually mixing the used oil with
a hazardous waste. In the present program, the Agency amended
the former regulations to exempt two specific types of used oil
from the rebuttable presumption. Both metalworking oils
containing chlorinated paraffins and used refrigeration
compressor oils containing chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFCs) are
exempt from the rebuttable presumption. In other words, if a
person generates one of these types of used oil, that person does
not have to prove that the oil has not been mixed with a
hazardous waste, even though it may contain more that 1,000 ppm
total halogens. The rebuttable presumption is codified in
§261.3(a)(2)(v), under the definition of hazardous waste, and in
Part 279, Subpart B, under applicability, as well as under the
requirements for generators, transporters, processors, and
burners.
MIXTURES
One confusing aspect of the present used oil management standards
involves mixtures of used oil and other materials. The
rebuttable presumption, outlined above, begins to' address
mixtures of used oil and hazardous waste. This section discusses
mixtures of used oil with both hazardous and solid wastfe and how
these mixtures are regulated (57 FR 41581). The present
regulations, like the former, require that mixtures of used oil
and listed hazardous waste continue to be regulate'd as hazardous
waste and managed according to all applicable hazardous waste
standards.
This straightforward principle for mixtures of used oil and
listed waste does not apply to mixtures of used oil and
characteristic hazardous waste. The present regulations lay out
two scenarios for mixtures of used oil and characteristic waste.
(Used oil that only exhibits a characteristic because of its
normal use is regulated as used oil, not hazardous waste.) The
first scenario involves used oil that is mixed with a waste that
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 7
is hazardous solely because it exhibits the characteristic of
ignitability. If the resultant mixture is no longer ignitable,
then the mixture can be managed as used oil, despite the inherent
characteristics that the used oil may bring to the mixture
(§279.10(b)(2)(iii)). The second scenario involves used oil
mixed with a waste that is hazardous because it exhibits one or
more characteristic of hazardous waste (other than just
ignitability). The resultant mixture must no longer exhibit any
characteristics if it is going to be managed as used oil
(§279.10(b)(2)(i) and (ii)).
The difference in the two scenarios is critical because used oil
will often inherently exhibit a characteristic from its normal
use. For example, used oil that displays the toxicity
characteristic for lead (D008) is mixed with an ignitable
hazardous waste (D001). Section 279.10(b)(2)(iii) allows this
mixture to remain under the umbrella of used oil regulation even
if it fails the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)
for lead (D008), as long as the mixture is no longer ignitable.
On the other hand, if the D008 used oil had been mixed with a
reactive waste (D003), then the resultant mixture would need to
be void of both characteristics in order to be managed as used
oil. Otherwise, the mixture would need to be managed as
hazardous waste.
Unlike mixtures with hazardous waste, any mixture of used oil
with solid waste or any material contaminated with or containing
used oil is regulated under the Part 279 standards as used oil.
Once the used oil has been properly drained or removed from the
mixture to the extent possible such that no visible signs of
free-flowing oil remain in or on the solid waste, the solid waste
is no longer subject to regulation as used oil, but rather is
classified as a solid waste. Any used oil separated from this
type of mixture- remains subject to all applicable Part 279
standards. The exception to this is that a solid waste from
which free-flowing used oil has been removed is still subject to
regulation as used oil if it is burned for energy recovery.
Used oil that is considered to be a hazardous waste solely
because it exhibits one or more characteristic of hazardous waste
(§§261.21-261.24), because it has been mixed with hazardous waste
subject to the special provisions of §261.5 for conditionally
exempt small quantity generators (CESQG), or because it has been
mixed with household hazardous waste is subject to regulation as
a used oil, not as a hazardous waste.
Mixtures of Used Oil with Products
The blending of used oil generated in diesel-powered vehicles
with diesel fuel is excluded from the processing and re-refining
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation*of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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8 - Used Oil
standards when the mixture is used in the generator1s own
vehicles as a fuel. The mixture itself is also specifically
excluded when used in this manner. The practice is recommended
by diesel engine manufacturers and the Agency has found that the
resultant fuel is low in toxic contaminants. In addition, as
stated earlier, diesel and marine engines are not covered by the
standards for used oil burners.
MATERIALS DERIVED FROM USED OIL
When a material is no longer subject to regulation as used oil.
Specifically, materials that are reclaimed from used oil and are
used beneficially without being burned for energy recovery are
not considered used oil and are not subject to the Part 279
standards. These materials are also not considered solid waste
and would, therefore, not be subject to regulation under any part
of RCRA. Materials produced from used oil that are burned for
energy recovery are regulated as used oil and are subject to Part
279. Materials derived from used oil that are disposed of or
used in a manner constituting disposal are not considered used
oil, but instead are considered solid wastes and subject to all
applicable solid and hazardous waste standards.
CONDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS
As with any rule or set of regulations, there are always some
exceptions. Along these lines, some types of used oil are
conditionally exempt from the Part 279 standards when managed in
accordance with §279.10.
Distillation and Tank Bottoms from Exempt Mixtures
Distillation bottoms from re-refining used oil are excluded from
Part 279 regulation and hazardous waste regulation when the
bottoms are used as ingredients in asphalt paving and roofing
materials. Because data indicate that these distillation bottoms
do not exhibit the toxicity characteristic and the practice is
common in the industry, the Agency has decided not to regulate
them when used in this manner (57 FR 41582).
Crude Oil or Natural Gas Pipelines
Used oil that is inserted into a crude oil or natural gas
pipeline is not subject to Part 279 standards once the used oil
enters the pipeline or when it is placed in a stock tank
connected to the pipeline. The Agency believes that once
introduced into a pipeline, used oil does not pose a greater
threat of a release than either crude oil or natural gas.
Therefore, owners/operators of natural gas and crude oil
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 9
processing plants can introduce used oil into their pipelines or
stock tanks that are connected to the pipeline without meeting
Part 279 standards. Prior to placement in the pipeline, however,
the oil is subject to all applicable used oil management
standards. A mixture of used oil and crude oil or natural gas
where the amount of used oil is less than one percent the total
volume of the mixture is not subject to regulation during storage
and transportation prior to insertion into the pipeline.
Petroleum Refineries
In the May 4, 1994, Federal Register (59 FR 10550), the pipeline
exemption was expanded to include certain activities at petroleum
refining facilities. For instance, a mixture of crude oil or
natural gas and less than one percent used oil is not subject to
Part 279 if the mixture is inserted into the refining process
prior to crude distillation or catalytic cracking (these are the
first steps in petroleum refining where crude oil is separated
and impurities are removed). This provision is similar to the
exemption for crude oil or natural gas pipelines. At a petroleum
refinery, as crude oil is piped in, used oil may be inserted into
a petroleum refinery procfess unit before distillation or
catalytic cracking without being subject to Part 279, as long as
the used oil constitutes less than one percent of the crude oil
feed at any given time. Used oil that is inserted into the
refining process after distillation or catalytic cracking would
only be exempt if the used oil meets specification in §279.11.
In both of the situations noted above, prior to insertion the
used oil is subject to any applicable Part 279 requirements.
Another situation where used oil may be exempt from Part 279 at a
petroleum refining facility is when used oil is incidentally
captured by a hydrocarbon recovery system or wastewater treatment
system as part of routine process operations. On the other hand,
if the used oil is intentionally introduced to a,hydrogen
recovery system, it will not be exempt. Incidental occurrences
may include drips, leaks, and spills from compressors, valves,
and pumps.
Wastewater
Wastewaters contaminated with de minimis quantities of used oil
are also excluded from the present requirements because these
wastewaters are regulated by the Clean Water Act. The definition
of de minimis quantities of used oil is "...small spills, leaks,
or drippings from pumps, machinery, pipes, and other similar
equipment during normal operations or when small amounts of oil
are lost to the wastewater treatment system during washing or
draining" (57 £R 41583). Any used oil that is recovered from
wastewater, however, falls under full regulation as used oil.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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10 - Used Oil
PCBs
In addition to being regulated under.Part 279, used oil that
contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is also subject to
regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
(§279.10(i)). The restrictions that TSCA places on used oil
containing PCBs are complimentary to and specifically reference
the RCRA requirements.
SPECIFICATION
For purposes of regulating used oil burned for energy recovery,
the Agency made a distinction between specification and off-
specification used oil. Specification refers to a set of
criteria which was intended to be protective of human health and
the environment in all circumstances. A used oil that meets the
specification levels is comparable to a product fuel oil in terms
of regulation. Used oil that is tested and is not within these
set parameters is termed off-specification. Once used oil has
been shown not to exceed specification levels, it is not subject
to the restrictions on burning in Subpart G. Off-specification
used oil can only be burned for energy recovery in industrial and
utility boilers, industrial furnaces, used oil-fired space
heaters, and hazardous waste incinerators regulated under Parts
2 64 and 2 65, Subpart 0. The first person to document that the
used oil being burned for- energy recovery meets the specification
criteria is considered the marketer of the used oil "and is
responsible for meeting the recordkeeping requirements of
§§279.72, 279.73, and 279.74(b).
Criteria
Section 279.11 outlines the specification levels and prescribes
the amount of regulation that applies to specification and' off-
specification used oil under Part 279. Both types of used oil
may be burned for energy recovery, but off-specification used oil
is subject to certain prohibitions. Used oil is considered to be
off-specification if it:
• Has a flashpoint below 100 degrees Fahrenheit
or
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 11
• Contains more than the allowable levels of any of the
following constituents
Constituent
Allowable Level
Arseni.c
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
5 ppm maximum
2 ppm maximum
10 ppm maximum
Total Halogens
100 ppm maximum
4,000 ppm* maximum
*Note that it is possible to exceed 1,000 ppm halogens and still
meet the specification criteria. If the presumption is
successfully rebutted the used oil can be burned in accordance
with Part 27 9.
Blending
Blending used oil to meet specification is permitted, since EPA
believes blended oil poses no greater hazard than dirty virgin
fuel oil (50 FR 49187; November 29, 1985). Used oil with over
1,000 ppm total halogens, however, may not be blended to lower
the halogen level below 1,000 ppm in order to apply the
rebuttable presumption and call it nonhazardous; the rebuttable
presumption must be applied to the used oil before it is blended
with other materials. A used oil handler blending used oil for
purposed of meeting specification would be subject to the
processor and re-refiner regulations in Part 279, Subpart F.
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS
Section 279.12 codifies specific prohibitions on the management
of used oil. Used oil cannot be stored in a surface impoundment
or waste pile, unless the unit is subject to regulation under
Parts 264/265. Also, the use of used oil for road oiling or as a
dust suppressant is prohibited, unless a state petitions EPA to
allow this activity provided it meets the specified conditions in
§279.82. The state must demonstrate in the petition how the
state's program will minimize the environmental impacts of such
activity. Another general prohibition addresses burning off-
specification fuel in certain units. Burners may only burn used
oil in an industrial boiler or furnace as defined in §260.10, in
a hazardous waste incinerator subject to regulation under Parts
264/265, Subpart 0, or in a used oil-fired space heater. When
burning in a space heater unit, the owner or operator must either
generate the oil he burns himself or receive it from do-it-
yourself oil changers. The maximum capacity of the device may
not exceed 0.5 million Btu per hour and combustion gases must be
vented to the ambient air (§279.l2(c)(2)(iii)).
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction use'd-for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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12 - Used Oil
USED OIL GENERATORS
A used oil generator is any person, by site, whose act or process
produces used oil or whose act first causes used oil to become
subject to regulation. Because the generation of used oil is so
widespread, with generators ranging from multinational
corporations to local service stations, used oil generators are
subject to limited standards under Part 279, Subpart C. The
recycled used oil standards place basic requirements on storage
and require compliance with the rebuttable presumption for all
generators of used oil.
Exceptions
Once again, though, we encounter exceptions to the rule. Certain
used oil generators are not subject to the regulations in Subpart
C of Part 279. These include the following: (1) household do-it-
yourselfers (DIYs) — individuals who generate used oil from the
maintenance of their personal vehicles or other household
sources; (2) vessels at port or at sea; (3) generators who mix
diesel fuel and used oil to be used in their own vehicles as a
fuel; and (4) farmers who, in a month, generate no more than 25
gallons of used oil from farm vehicles or machinery (§279.20(a)).
Storage
The primary requirements placed on generators involve good
housekeeping practices for storing used oil on-site. Used oil
can only be stored in containers and tanks that are in good
condition; i.e., free of any visible spills, leaks, structural
damage, or deterioration (§279.22(b)). Containers, aboveground
tanks, and fill pipes used to transfer used oil into underground
storage tanks need to be clearly marked with the words "Used Oil"
to prevent incidental mixing of used oil with hazardous waste or
other materials. Used oil can also be stored in units already
subject to regulation under Parts 264 and 265, such as lined
surface impoundments, and in underground storage tanks (USTs)
subject to regulation under Part 280. Generators of used oil
have no time or quantity limitations on storing used oil because
the Agency feels that used oil is a marketable commodity;
therefore, there is an incentive for the generator to send used
oil off-site for recycling (57 FR 41587). In the event of a
release from one of these units to the environment, the generator
must comply with the response measures set forth in §279.22(d)
which include stopping and containing the, release, properly
managing any used oil or contaminated materials, and repairing or
replacing the leaking container or tank. Releases from
underground storage tanks that are subject to UST corrective
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 13
action are regulated under Part 280 standards for USTs, not under
Part 279.
Burning
Generators can burn their own used oil and DIY-generated used oil
in used oil-fired space heaters without complying with
regulations for used oil burners in Part 279, Subpart G. The
heaters must have a maximum capacity of 0.5 million Btu per hour
and the combustion gases must be vented into the ambient air.
Processing
Used oil generators that process or re-refine used oil are also
subject to regulation under Part 279, Subpart F. There are some
activities, however, that a generator may engage in that would
not be considered processing, and therefore, not subject to
Subpart F. There are five activities that a generator may
perform and not be considered a processor as long as the used oil
was generated on-site and it is not being sent directly off-site
to a burner. A generator may (l) filter, clean, or recondition
used oil to be reused by the generator; (2) separate used oil
generated on-site from wastewater to meet Clean Water Act
regulations prior to discharge of the wastewater; (3) capture
used oil droplets in the air by a mist collector to make in-plant
air amenable for recirculation; (4) drain or remove used oil
from materials containing or contaminated with used oil; and (5)
filter, separate, or recondition used oil before burning it in a
space heater on-site. The March 4, 1994, Federal Register,
amended the generator requirements to clarify that these
activities would not subject a generator to the processing
regulations in Subpart F (59 FR 10550).
Off-site Shipments
Although most transportation of used oil is regulated under Part
279 standards, a generator is allowed to transport some of
his/her own used oil and used oil collected from DIY generators
provided the following conditions are met: (1) the generator must
bring the used oil to either an approved collection center or
self-owned or -operated aggregation point; (2) the used oil must
be delivered in shipments of 55 gallons or less; and (3) the used
oil must be transported in a vehicle owned by the generator or an
employee of the generator. The generator can also have his used
oil transported by a transporter without an EPA identification
number if a tolling arrangement is made in accordance with the
regulations in §279.24(c). In all other situations, generators
must ensure that their used oil is transported by a transporter
who has obtained an EPA ID number.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation-of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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14 - Used Oil
USED OIL COLLECTION CENTERS AND AGGREGATION POINTS
To encourage and facilitate the recycling of used oil from small
sources, the Agency created reduced requirements for used oil
collection centers and aggregation points in Part 279, Subpart D.
Do-It-Yourselfer Used Oil Collection Centers
Under Part 279, Subpart D, there are two types of usecj oil
collection centers, DIY used oil collection centers and used oil
collection centers. A DIY used oil collection center is any site
or facility that stores or accepts or aggregates used oil
collected only from people who generate used oil in their homes
(i.e. household DIY used oil generators). Owners/operators of
DIY used oil collections centers need only comply with the
generator standards in Part 279, Subpart C.
Used Oil Collection Centers
The present regulations define used oil collection center to mean
any site or facility that is registered, licensed, permitted, or
recognized by a state, county, or municipal government to manage
used oil and accept, aggregate, or store .used oil collected from
used oil generators regulated under Part 279, Subpart C. The
used oil generator must deliver the used oil in shipments of 55
gallons or less. Used oil collection centers may also accept
used oil from household do-it-yourselfers.
Used Oil Aggregation Points
A used oil aggregation point means any site or facility that
accepts, aggregates, or stores used oil collected only from other
used oil generation sites owned or operated by the owner or
operator of the aggregation point. The used oil must be
transported to the aggregation point in shipments of no .more than
55 gallons. Used oil aggregation points may also accept used oil
from household do-it-yourselfers.
USED OIL TRANSPORTERS AND TRANSFER FACILITIES
A used oil transporter is any person who transports used oil,
collects used oil from more than one generator and transports the
collected used oil, or owns or operates a used oil transfer
facility. Used oil transporters may consolidate or aggregate
used oil for the purposes of transporting and may conduct
incidental processing operations that occur during the normal
course of transportation (i.e., separating water from used oil
that has settled during the aggregation or -transportation
process). Transporters who otherwise produce used oil-derived
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used oil - 15
products or make these products more amenable for production are
considered used oil processors.
Before the present used oil management standards, transporters of
used oil were not regulated under RCRA. Now used oil
transporters must not only notify EPA of their activities, but
must also track their shipments and maintain compliance with the
rebuttable presumption. The management standards of Part 279,
Subpart D are similar to regulations for hazardous waste
transporters in many respects, including a provision for used oil
transfer facilities.
Like generators, used oil transporters who engage in other used
oil management practices must follow the applicable standards in
Part 279. For example, a transporter who processes used oil must
also comply with the requirements for used oil processors and re-
refiners in Part 279, Subpart F, including transporters who blend
used oil with virgin oils to meet specification. Transporters,
however, may conduct incidental processing operations and
consolidation for the purposes of transportation in compliance
with §279.41 without being considered a processor or re-refiner.
Storage
As with the hazardous waste regulations, used oil transporters
may store used oil at transfer facilities for a limited time
during the normal course of transportation. EPA defines transfer
facility as any transportation-related facility including loading
docks, parking areas, and other areas where shipments of used oil
are held for more than 24 hours and less than 3 5 days during the
normal course of transportation. Transfer facilities that store
used oil for more than 35 days are subject to Part 279, Subpart F
standards for used oil processors and re-refiners. Facilities
that store used oil for less than 24 hours do not meet the
definition of used oil transfer facility and would not be subject
to these requirements.
Transfer facilities and transporters can store used oil in the
same units as generators, but must supply secondary containment
for the storage units in accordance with §279.45. Releases that
occur during the course of transportation require the transporter
to take "appropriate and immediate action to protect human health
and the environment1' (§279.43 (c)) .
Rebuttable Presumption
The used oil management standards require transporters to apply
the rebuttable presumption to all shipments of used oil. They¦
must determine the total halogen content of used oil prior to
accepting a shipment for transport.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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16 - Used Oil
If the total halogenvcontent exceeds 1,000 ppm, the used oil is
presumed to have been mixed with a halogenated hazardous waste.
If the presumption of mixing can be rebutted by documenting the
source of the halogens, then the used oil can be managed as used
oil. Otherwise, the used oil contaminated with halogens is
regulated as hazardous waste under applicable solid and hazardous
waste requirements.
BURNERS OF USED OIL FUEL
The used oil program only regulates the burning of off-
specification used oil. The burning of used oil that meets the
specification criteria in §279.11 is not regulated by the burner
standards in Subpart G. Off-specification used oil fuel can only
be burned in the following three types of devices:
•	Industrial furnaces — enclosed devices that use
controlled flame combustion to burn used oil or
hazardous waste (limited to 12 devices listed in
§260.10)
•	Boilers — enclosed devices that use controlled flame
combustion to burn used oil or hazardous waste for
energy recovery (must meet the four criteria listed in
§260.10)
•	Hazardous waste incinerators subject to regulation under
Part 264/265, Subpart 0.
By limiting the burning of off-specification used oil to these
three types of devices, the present program prohibits the burning
of used oil in non-industrial boilers, including boilers located
at single or multifamily residences, commercial establishments
such as hotels, office buildings, or laundries, and institutional
establishments such as hospitals, colleges, prisons, or churches.
The other major provision applicable to burners under Part 279
involves storage. The storage requirements for burners.are
essentially the same as those for generators discussed earlier;
however, storage areas at burner facilities must be equipped with
secondary containment in accordance with §279.64.
USED OIL FUEL MARKETERS
The current regulations define a used oil fuel marketer as any
person who either (1) directs a shipment of off-specification
used oil from the facility to a used oil burner or (2) first
claims that the used oil going to be burned for energy recovery
meets the specification requirements. Under the former
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 17
regulations, the definition also included individuals who
produce, process, or blend used oil fuel.
Used oil marketers can be divided into two categories: those that
market off-specification used oil and those that market oil which
meets specification. For each category different regulations
apply under Part 279, Subpart H. The used oil fuel marketer
requirements are applicable to anyone, including a generator,
transporter, processor, or burner of used oil, who engages in
marketing activities or who first claims that the used oil meets
the specification criteria. Under the present definition of
marketer, it would be impossible for someone to only be a
marketer without engaging in any other used oil management
practices (57 FR 41061; September 10, 1992).
Off-Specification Used Oil Marketers
Used oil marketers handling off-specification oil are subject to
the prohibitions found in §279.71, as well as analysis of used
oil fuel and notification to EPA of location and description of
used oil management activities, in addition, they must comply
with the tracking requirements, including their EPA ID number,
the name and address of both the marketer and the receiving
facility, the quantity delivered, and the date of shipment.
Prior to initiating the first shipment to a burner or other
marketer, a marketer needs to acquire a one-time written and
signed certification that the burner or marketer has notified EPA
of all used oil management activities and, if a burner, that the
used' oil will only be burned in one of the allowable devices
listed in §279.12(c). A marketer must keep copies of all
invoices for three years from the date received or prepared. _
Also, copies of all off-specification certifications from other
burners or marketers must be kept for three years from the date
of the last transaction with that person or facility.
Specification Used Oil Marketers
Used oil marketers handling specification used oil must analyze
the used oil fuel to show that it meets specification, as well as
notify EPA if the marketer is the first one to claim the oil
meets specification. An operating log must be kept on each
shipment, including the name and address of the receiving
facility, quantity,
delivery date, and cross-reference to the record of analysis to
show it meets specification. Records of all waste analysis
documentation and operating logs must be kept for three years.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation.of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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18 - Used Oil
USED OIL PROCESSORS AND RE-REFINERS
Before the present used oil management standards were
promulgated, used oil processors, and re-refiners were virtually
unregulated. The only requirement placed on them was that, like
all other solid waste generators, they were required to make a
hazardous waste determination regarding any residues that were
disposed. The present regulations greatly increased the
requirements for processors and re-refiners by mirroring
standards for hazardous waste TSDFs. These requirements include
obtaining an EPA identification number and complying with a used
oil version of general facility standards.
Processing
Processing means any chemical or physical operations designed to
produce or facilitate the production of fuel oils, lubricants, or
other used oil-derived products from used oil. These operations
include, but are not limited to blending used oil with virgin
petroleum products, blending used oils to meet fuel
specification, filtration, simple distillation, chemical or
physical separation, and re-refining. Processing does not
include, however, generators processing used oil generated on-
site for use on-site. If transporters or transfer facilities
filter oil from oil-bearing transformers before returning it to
its original use, they would not be subject to processing
standards.
storage
Processors and re-refiners are subject to the same storage
standards, including secondary containment, as transporters or
burners (§279.54). Processors and re-refiners, however, have no
time or quantity limitations on storing used oil.
There is one major difference in the storage requirements for
processors and re-refiners. Processing facilities must comply
with stringent closure requirements (§279.54(h)). Both
aboveground tanks and containers need to have all used oil
residues removed and any units still containing used oil or
residues must be taken off-site. The owner/operator must
decontaminate or remove used oil residues from all buildings,
structures, and soils at the site. If the owner/operator cannot,
demonstrate the absence of contaminated soils at the time of
closure, then the facility must be closed.in accordance with
hazardous waste landfill standards (§279.54(h)(1)(ii)). Because
the contaminated equipment will ultimately be disposed of,
hazardous waste regulations would apply if the equipment exhibits
a characteristic of hazardous waste.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 19
General Facility Standards and Recordkeeping
Facilities that conduct processing are subject to general
facility standards, similar to interim status treatment, storage,
and disposal facilities (TSDFs) (§279.52). These requirements
include general facility maintenance, fire and explosion
prevention, emergency communication systems, and release response
plans. Every processing facility must have a contingency plan to
minimize the hazards to human health and the environment in the
event of a fire, explosion, or release of used oil.
Processors of used oil are also subject to tracking, analysis
plan, and recordkeeping requirements. The owner/operator must
make a record of each shipment of used oil that the facility
accepts for processing in accordance with §279.56. The
owner/operator must prepare an analysis plan that describes the
procedures that will be used in rebutting the presumption and
determining if the used oil meets specification requirements.
The owner/operator must submit a biennial report to the Regional
Administrator containing information about the quantity of used
oil processed and the specific processes employed.
Rebuttable Presumption
The rebuttable presumption requirements for processors and re-
refiners are similar to the transporter requirements. Processors
must determine the total halogen content of the used oil prior to
accepting the used oil shipment in accordance with §279.53. If
the presumption cannot be rebutted then the shipment is
considered to be hazardous waste and must to be managed by a
hazardous waste TSDF.
2 . 3 FORMER PROGRAM
The former used oil program in Part 266, Subpart E, is narrower
in scope than the present used oil management standards. The
program regulates used oil being burned for energy recovery, so
the used oil handlers subject to regulation under this program
were marketers and burners of off-specification fuel. There are
no requirements for generators, transporters, collection centers,
or processors/re-refiners. Many of the basic concepts from the
former program have been retained. For example, the rebuttable
presumption, on and off-specification used oil, prohibitions on
burning off-specification used oil, and the regulations for
marketers and burners are carried over from the former used oil
management program. Essentially, the regulations for marketers
and burners are recodified in Part 279, Subparts G and H, but for
the sake of clarity, citations for Part 266, Subpart E, are used
throughout this section of the module.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation-of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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20 - Used Oil
Unlike the present used oil program, the former used oil program
does not have a recycling presumption, therefore, the regulation
of used oil hinges upon the ultimate destination of the used oil.
Basically, there are four possible routes or pathways for the
management of used oil. The following section discusses these
four routes or pathways.
THE FOUR PATHWAYS
The former used oil regulations provide four options or pathways
for final disposition of used oil. The standards to which a used
oil handler is subject depend on the method of handling and the
final destination of the oil.
Used Oil Sent for Disposal
Used oil sent for disposal can either be incinerated or land
disposed. If the used oil displays a characteristic of hazardous
waste, its disposal is regulated under RCRA. All applicable
requirements under Parts 262 through 265 and 268 would need to be
met, as well as any applicable state or local environmental
regulations.
Used Oil That Is Recycled
According to the former regulations, used oil that is recycled in
a manner other than being burned for energy recovery, and is only
hazardous due to characteristics, is exempt from Parts 262
through 266, 268, 270, and 124, and RCRA §3010 notification per
§261.6(a)(3) (iii). An example would be a used oil that is being
re-refined.
Used Oil Used in a Manner Constituting Disposal
Used oil used in a manner constituting disposal is addressed
under §266.23(b). The use of waste or used oil or other material
that has been contaminated with dioxin or any other hazardous
waste (other than a waste identified as hazardous solely due to
ignitability) for dust suppression or road treatment is
prohibited. In other words, any used oil that exhibits one or
more characteristic of hazardous waste, other than ignitability,
is banned from use as a dust suppressant.
Used Oil Burned for Energy Recovery
According to the former regulations, used oil that is burned for
energy recovery is subject to regulation under Part 266, Subpart
E. These requirements are briefly discusse'd in section 2.4.
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 21
MIXTURE RULE
As with the present program, used oil that has been mixed with a
listed hazardous waste is subject to regulation as hazardous
waste and if burned must be handled in accordance with the
requirements of Part 2 66, Subpart H, or Parts 264/265, Subpart 0
(§261.3(a)(2)(iv)}* Mixtures of used oil and characteristic
hazardous waste can be managed in one of two ways, depending on
whether or not the mixture exhibits a characteristic. If the
resultant mixture is void of characteristics, then it can be
burned as used oil under Part 266, Subpart E. If the mixture
exhibits a characteristic of hazardous waste, then it must be
burned as hazardous waste in accordance with the BIF standards in
Part 266, Subpart H. Mixtures of used oil and characteristic
waste that still exhibit a characteristic and are not burned for
energy recovery are subject to all applicable hazardous waste
regulations.
On the other hand, used oil that is considered to be a hazardous
waste solely because it exhibits one or more characteristic of
hazardous waste (§§261.21-261.24) is regulated as used oil. The
used oil regulations also"apply to used oil that exhibits a
characteristic because it has been mixed with hazardous waste
subject to the special provisions of §261.5 for conditionally
exempt small quantity generators, or because it has been mixed
with household hazardous waste.
USED OIL BURNED FOR ENERGY RECOVERY
EPA estimates that over 800 million gallons of used oil are
recycled each year, either by burning for energy recovery or re-
refining. Approximately 80 million gallons are disposed of
annually (57 FR 21531; May 20, 1991). Consequently, the majority
of used oil regulations, particularly in this program, are
focused on those who generate, market, or burn used oil for
energy recovery purposes. The first question in considering
regulatory requirements for burning used oil under Part 266 is
applicability: Is the used oil regulated under Subpart E or is
it considered hazardous waste and subsequently regulated under
Subpart H? Figure 1 provides a flowchart to assist you in making
this determination.
Figure 1
BURNING FOR ENERGY RECOVERY
FORMER PROGRAM
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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22 - Used Oil
REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION
Originally, the rebuttable presumption was codified at
§266.40(c). The present program only amended it slightly by
adding an exemption for refrigerator compressor oils and some
metalworking oils that become contaminated with halogens through
normal use. Also, the present regulations extend the
applicability of the rebuttable presumption to all used oil, not
just used oil being burned for energy recovery.
SPECIFICATION
Section 266.40(e) outlines the specification levels and
prescribes the amount of regulation that applies to specification
and off-specification used oil under Part 266, Subpart E. Used
oil that meets specification under the former program is not
covered by the burning regulations in Part 2 66, Subpart E, and
may be burned in nonindustrial boilers and furnaces.
Specification used oil is, however, subject to reguirements for
notification, analysis, and recordkeeping.
GENERATORS OF USED OIL
Generators of used oil destined for energy recovery are not
subject to regulation under Part 266 unless they are also
marketing or burning the used oil. Generators who market used
oil directly to a burner are subject to the standards applicable
to marketers (§266.43). If the generator burns the used oil he
or she is subject to the standards applicable to burners
(§266.44). If a generator produces a used oil that meets the
definition of a hazardous waste and the material is destined for
disposal, the generator must comply with all applicable hazardous
waste regulations.
MARKETERS OF USED OIL
While the present used oil standards changed the definition of
marketer (as described in Section 2.3 of this module), they do
not modify the regulations for marketers originally promulgated
in the November 29, 1985, rule. The Agency has recodified the
standards that initially appeared in §266.43 as Part 279, Subpart
H.
BURNERS OF USED OIL
According to the former regulations, burners of used oil are
subject to the general reguirements and prohibitions under
§266.44(b). Notification, including the location and a general
description of used oil management activities, is reguired for
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 23
all burners with only two exceptions. Neither owners/operators
of used oil-fired space heaters nor burners that receive used oil
that meets specification from a marketer who has previously
notified EPA need to notify. For marketers of off-specificatiori
used oil, the burner must provide the marketer with a one-time
written and signed notice, certifying that EPA was notified of
the used oil management activities, and that the used oil will
only be burned in a unit identified in §266.41(b).
Used oil fuel analysis is required for generators who are also
burners unless they have other data or documentation stating that
the used oil meets specification under §266.40(e). Burners who
treat off-specification used oil fuel by processing, blending, or
other treatment in order to meet specification under §266.40(e)
also must obtain analysis or other documentation that the used
oil meets the specification. Burners must keep copies of all
invoices received, copies of all waste analysis information, and
copies of all certification notices sent to marketers, and retain
them for three years.
Used crankcase oil from diesel engines is frequently blended with
virgin diesel fuel and burned in diesel engines or ship engines.
Since they do not meet the definition of either a boiler or an
industrial furnace, however, diesel and marine engines are not
covered by these regulations (50 FR 49193; November 29, 1985).
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation.of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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24 - Used Oil
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Used Oil - 25
3. SPECIAL ISSUES
Used oil is itself a hot topic; however, there are some closely
related issues that callers often ask about. The following is a
summary of the main areas of concern.
3.1 USED OIL FILTERS
In the September 23, 1991, Federal Register. EPA discussed
exempting used oil filters that had been properly drained and
crushed from the definition of hazardous waste (56 48000).
The Agency finalized this exclusion in §261.4(b)(13)) (57 Fg
21531; May 20, 1992). The exclusion is limited to non-terne
plated filters. Terne is described as an alloy of tin and lead
and may be used on filters found in heavy trucks or equipment.
In practice, it is difficult to differentiate between terne and
non-terne plated filters, and the generator of a. used oil filter
may have to contact the filter's manufacturer to obtain this
information. To meet the exemption the filters must have the
used oil removed from them in one of four ways. The filter may
be punctured and hot-drained, hot-drained and crushed, or hot-
drained and dismantled. Finally, any other equivalent hot-
draining method may be used as long as it removes the oil. The
term "hot-drained" means that the used oil filter is drained near
engine operating temperature. EPA does not require the filter be
drained for a certain length of time; however, based on the
research done, 12 hours is recommended as adequate to remove the
majority of the oil. If one of these four methods is followed,
the filter may be disposed of as nonhazardous.
3.2 TANK STORAGE OF USED OIL
Used oil is considered a "regulated substance" for the purposes
of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program, under the
definitions in §280.12. Therefore, any underground storage tank
holding used oil that is destined for recycling, re-refining, or
burning for energy recovery would be regulated under Part 280
standards. Any aboveground tank holding used oil under the same
circumstances would be regulated under 4 0 CFR Part 112 (Clean
Water Act regulations) or state regulations. Under the former
program, if a generator is storing used oil for disposal, the
tank is regulated under §262.34 and the applicable portions of
Parts 264/265, Subpart J. Under the present program, since it is
presumed used oil will be recycled, the hazardous waste tank
standards are not applicable. Instead, the Part 279 tank
standards and any relevant portions of the UST and Clean Water
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation"of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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26 - Used Oil
Act programs apply. The present regulations specifically refer
handlers to the requirements for tank storage in these programs.
3.3 CERCLA LIABILITY EXEMPTION FOR SERVICE STATIONS
Since 1986, §114(c) of the Comprehensive, Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) has offered a recycled
used oil exemption from CERCLA liability to service station
dealers (SSD), as defined in CERCLA §101(37). Because of three
conditions set forth in the statute, no person could be eligible
for the exemption until the present recycled used oil management
standards in Part 279 were created. The first condition requires
SSDs to be in compliance with management standards promulgated
pursuant to §3014 of RCRA. Since no standards had been
promulgated until September 10, 1992, the exemption had been
previously unusable. The second condition does not allow SSDs to
mix used oil with any hazardous substance. The third condition
requires the SSDs to accept DIY-generated used oil for recycling.
The exemption is limited to generator and transporter liability
under CERCLA §§107 (a) (3) and (4), so the SSD would be responsible
for conducting any corrective action measures if a release of
used oil occurs from any container, above'ground tank, or
underground storage tank on-site.
3.4 EFFECTIVE DATE AND STATE AUTHORIZATION
Because the present used oil requirements were promulgated
pursuant to RCRA, the regulations became automatically effective
only in unauthorized states. In other words, the present
regulations replaced the former ones in unauthorized states and
territories (Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Wyoming, American Samoa,
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) on
March 8, 1993. In states that are authorized to run their own
hazardous waste programs in lieu of the federal program, the Part
279 standards will not become effective until a state revises its
program to adopt equivalent requirements under state law.
Some of the Part 270 provisions, however, consist of- former
requirements that were recodified from Part 266, Subpart E. As
such, these requirements for marketers and burners remain
federally enforceable in states not authorized for them and
state-enforceable in those states that have already adopted them.
This means four situations are possible. First, in a state that
is not authorized for any portion of RCRA, all of the Part 279
regulations became effective on March 8, 1993. In states that
are authorized for the base program but not the requirements in
Part 266, Subpart E, Part 279, Subparts A through F and I are not
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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Jsed Oil - 27
enforceable until the state is granted authorization, but Part
279, Subparts G and H remain federally enforceable. In states
that are already authorized for Part 266, Subpart E, the Part
279, Subparts G and H standards remain state-enforceable, and the
rest of Part 279 is not effective until the state adopts them.
Finally, states with EPA-approved Part 279 programs may enforce
all of the Part 279 regulations. Under §271.21(e)(2), the Agency
can set a deadline by which these authorized states must
incorporate the present used oil regulations into their state
code. For the present used oil regulations, this date is set at
July 1, 1994, if a statutory change is not necessary, or July l,
1995, if one is required.
The federal regulations provide requirements for used oil
management; however, state regulations may be more stringent and
therefore take precedence. For example, New York, New Jersey,
and Minnesota regulate used oil as a hazardous waste. Other
states handle it as a "special waste."
3.5 USED OIL MIXTURE RULE
On September 15, 1994, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit remanded the 1992 used oil mixture rule to
EPA. The used oil mixture rule sets special standards for
mixtures of used oil and hazardous waste. The court ruled that
the.mixture rule standards are less stringent that the RCRA
Subtitle C regulations for other mixtures of hazardous waste.
According to the ruling, EPA must determine if the mixture rule
is inconsistent with RCRA, and if so, to withdraw it.
In the May 8, 1995, Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, EPA stated that
the remand focuses on mixtures of used oil and characteristic
hazardous waste (e.g., spent mineral spirits) (60 FR 23978). The
Agency plans to address the remand via a proposed rule on the
applicability of the land disposal restrictions (LDR) to de-
characterized mixtures of used oil and characteristic hazardous
waste. EPA anticipates that the changes resulting from the rule
will have minimal impact on states, local and tribal governments,
and small businesses (e.g., service stations, quick lubes).
The information in this document is not by any means a complete
representation of EPA's regulations or policies, but is an
introduction used for Hotline training purposes. For complete
and current information, please call the RCRA/UST, Superfund, and
EPCRA Hotline.

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METADATA RECORD
TITLE
Hazardous Waste Mangement System: Recycled Used Oil Management
Standard,
Administrative Stay of the Used Oil Mixture Rule
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
60 FR 55202
ABSTRACT
EPA has issued an administrative stay of the regulatory
provisions in 40
CFR 279.10(b)(2) applicable to mixtures of used oil and either
characteristic hazardous waste or waste listed as hazardous
because it
exhibits a hazardous waste characteristic. The stay reinstates
for these
mixtures the regulatory requirements for hazardous waste mixtures
and the
land-disposal restrictions, until the Agency completes a new
rulemaking.
PURPOSE
Regulatory action
ORIGINATOR
Communications Services Branch
Office of Solid Waste (5305W)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
ACCESS CONSTRAINTS
None
PUBLICATION DATE
October 30, 1995
AVAILABILITY
The text of the Federal Register notice is located under "Rules,
Regulations, and Legislation/Waste Programs/EPA Waste
Information-GPO/1995/October/30
Call:

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RCRA/Superfund Hotline, 1-800-424-9346
Write:
RCRA Information Center (RIC)
U.S. EPA (5305W)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
e-mail: RCRA-Docket§epamail.epa.gov
COVERAGE
Limited to United States
TIME PERIOD OF COVERAGE
Current October 30, 1995
POINT OF CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
RCRA/Superfund Hotline, 1-800-424-9346
CATALOGUING SOURCE
Communications Services Branch (5305W)
Office of Solid Waste
DATE OF CREATION
November 2, 1995
ELEMENTS FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS
N/A
AGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
None
This file identified as an EPA MetaData Record. To access the
data
associated with this MetaData follow this link.
URL:
http://www.epa.gov/docs/OSWRCRA/hazwaste/id/usedoi1/metauost.txt.
html
File conversion by txt2html on 11/02/95 at 22:34.

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