Wastewater treatment exemptions

Proposed Revision to Wastewater Treatment Exemption for Hazardous Waste Mixtures... 

U.S. EPA, Revision of Wastewater Treatment Exemptions for Hazardous Waste Mixtures ( Headworks Exemptions ), http //www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/headworks/index.htm, November 14, 2007. 

On April 8, 2003, U.S. EPA proposed to add benzene and 2-ethoxyethanol to the list of solvents whose mixtures with wastewater are exempted from the definition of hazardous waste.23 U.S. EPA is proposing to provide flexibility in the way compliance with the rule is determined by adding the option of directly measuring solvent chemical levels at the headworks of the wastewater treatment system. In addition, U.S. EPA is proposing to include scrubber waters derived from the combustion of spent solvents to the headworks exemption. Finally, U.S. EPA is finalizing the Headworks Rule, as follows24 ... 

The pulp and paper industry generates hazardous wastes, but most are associated with wastewater, which is rendered nonhazardous in wastewater treatment or neutralization units within the manufacturing facilities and therefore is not subject to RCRA requirements. Also, black liquor is exempt as a solid waste if it is reclaimed in a recovery furnace and reused in the pulping process. 

Many small tanks and wastewater treatment plant tanks have been exempt from these rules. Penalties for noncompliance with the UST guidelines can be up to 10,000 per day. All other violations of the RCRA can carry similar penalties, including steep fines and jail time. Civil penalties can be assessed up to 25,000 per day per violation of the RCRA. Criminal penalties up to 250,000 and 15 years in jail can be imposed for knowingly putting someone in imminent danger by violating the RCRA. Similar to other environmental laws, the RCRA authorizes citizen suits in the event that the USEPA fails to implement the RCRA. 

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