Technical evaluation, hazardous waste

US Studies. In 1994 the US EPA published the results of an extended study of PCDD/F and particulate emissions from a variety of combustors fed with hazardous waste, in a report entitled Combustion Emissions Technical Resource Document (CETRED).6 According to the report, US EPA is evaluating [particulate] emissions because controlling [particulate emissions] will control emissions of most toxic metals and toxic organic compounds absorbed into the [particulate matter] . 

Some technical problems. Implicit in the idea of a regulatory standard or criterion is some level of risk assessment and risk evaluation, more or less formally, and with more or less sophistication. By risk assessment I mean that some sort of calculation or estimate is made, however roughly, as to the likelihood of an adverse impact of a hazardous waste on human health or the environment. Then risk evaluation is some sort of calculation or estimate, however roughly, as to whether that likelihood or risk of adverse impact is acceptable, or not. 

One of the most promising technical approaches to regulation of hazardous wastes (and one that already seems in progress for evaluation and response to old problem sites) is the development of a degree of hazard system of waste classification. The current RCRA approach and, to a slightly lesser degree, the Louisiana approach tend to treat all hazardous wastes as about equal. In fact, however, it is apparent that waste materials differ very greatly over a spectrum of intensity of the characteristics that make them hazardous. This is particularly so for the characteristic of toxicity. 

The technical challenges to the development of a hazardous waste management scheme based on such premises are great. For example, standard methodologies for evaluating the probable... 

Leo Weitzman received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Purdue University. He is a consultant with 29 years of experience in the development, design, permitting, and operation of equipment and facilities for treating hazardous waste and remediation debris. Dr. Weitzman has extensive experience in the disposal of hazardous waste and contaminated materials by thermal treatment, chemical reaction, solvent extraction, biological treatment, and stabilization. He has published more than 40 technical papers. Dr. Weitzman is currently serving on the National Research Council s Committee on Review and Evaluation of Alternative Technologies for Demilitarization of Assembled Chemical Weapons Phase 2. 

CFR101-27.204 41CFR101-42.001 4.1.6 Unless shelf life is extended on the basis of technical evaluation (e g. for Type II extendable shelf-life items (see definition)), hazardous materials with an expired shelf life shall be reclassified as "hazardous waste" (see definition), if required by federal, state and/or local environmental laws or regulations. 

NIOSH. 1980b. Technical assistance report TA 80-33, Omaha Waste Pretreatment Plant, Omaha, Nebraska. Cincinnati, OH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch. NIOSH-HE/TA-80-33. NTIS publication no. PB81-111148. 

Army. 1978a. The hazard ranking and allocation methodology Evaluation of TNT waste waters for continuing research efforts. Technical report 7808. Frederick, MD U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick. Document no. AD A061770. (author Small MJ). 

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