EPA Training & Certification
Welcome to the online RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) Hazardous Waste Safety Training program. Hazardous waste can cause danger to those who either handle or work around it. If mishandled without following safe precautions, these hazardous wastes can pose serious threat to lives and the environment, endanger wildlife and contaminate natural resources such as water, soil and air. Hence, it is necessary that those handling hazardous wastes must follow prescribed guidelines, safety standards and hazardous waste management principles.
Governing regulations
This course is focused more on RCRA regulations which deal with hazardous wastes and used oil as per 40 CFR Parts 260 through 268, 273, and 279 sections. A thorough analysis of the management of hazardous waste and used oil will be done by expert tutors right from the creation to final disposal.
Course Overview
In this course, we will analyze and explore some of the key federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) safety standards which are relevant to managing hazardous waste, including proper treatment, storage and disposal; preparedness in case of emergency; and managing records and reporting of incidents. Students will also be introduced with some of the rules and regulations with regard to universal wastes and used oils.
Who Must Take this Course?
This course is made for those who generate or carry hazardous waste materials, operators and owners of storage, treatment and disposal plants of hazardous waste and those who provide services to such enterprises. People such as transporters, generators and operators of hazardous wastes can join this course to understand the compliance procedures of RCRA regulations.
Course Format
Our RCRA Training course is packed with expert-made universal content for learners to comprehend easily, graphical and audio slides, case studies, self-test questions and final exam.
Continuing education credits?
Each student will receive 1.6 CEUs (or 16 CMEs) for completing this course.
Topics Covered
- About This Course
- RCRA Course Objectives
- Unit Topics for the RCRA Course
- Unit 1 Introduction to RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Training
- Unit 1 Objectives
- Key Terms
- Overview of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- History of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
- Amendments to the RCRA Law
- Structure of the RCRA Regulations
- The Term “RCRA” and the RCRA Subtitles
- Applicability
- The Vision Behind the RCRA Waste Management Regulations
- What Is Hazardous Waste?
- The “Cradle-to-Grave” Approach to Managing Hazardous Waste
- The Waste Management Hierarchy
- A Closer Look at Waste Management Hierarchy Approaches
- Comparison of the RCRA and HAZWOPER Regulations
- Enforcement of the RCRA Regulations
- EPA Cleanup Programs
- RCRA Corrective Action Sites
- Typical Cleanup Process
- Superfund Sites
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 2 Hazardous Waste Classification
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Hazardous Waste Classification
- What is a Solid Waste?
- Solid and Hazardous Waste Exclusions
- Other Materials Excluded from RCRA Regulations
- Identification of Hazardous Wastes
- Listed Wastes
- Identification Codes for Listed Wastes
- F-Listed Wastes
- K-Listed Wastes
- P- and U-Listed Wastes
- Examples of P- and U-Listed Wastes
- Characteristic Wastes
- Ignitability Characteristic
- Corrosivity Characteristic
- Reactivity Characteristic
- Toxicity Characteristic
- Mixed Waste: A Combination of Hazardous Waste and Radioactive Material
- Universal Wastes
- How to Determine If a Material Is Considered Hazardous Waste
- The Hazardous Waste Identification Process
- The Importance of Asking the Questions in the Specific Order
- The Mixture Rule
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 3 Generators of Hazardous Waste
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Categories of Generators and Their Responsibilities
- Accumulation of Hazardous Waste
- Hazardous Waste Determination
- EPA Identification Numbers
- What Is a Manifest?
- Designating a Facility on the Manifest
- Printing the Manifest
- Distributing and Using the Manifest
- Waste Minimization Certification
- Preparing Hazardous Waste for Transportation
- The Hazard Classes
- Hazardous Waste Notice
- Labeling Hazardous Waste for Transport
- Recordkeeping and Reporting
- The Biennial Report
- The Exception Report
- Submitting an Exception Report
- Exports and Imports of Hazardous Waste
- Exports and Imports of Hazardous Waste – General Requirements
- Generators Subject to Specific Regulations
- Farmers
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 4 Transporters of Hazardous Waste
- Key Terms
- RCRA Transportation Regulations
- RCRA Alignment with DOT Regulations
- The EPA Identification Number
- The Manifest System
- Labeling Hazardous Waste for Transport
- Transport Recordkeeping
- Missing Return Manifests
- Transfer Facilities
- Hazardous Waste Spills in Transit
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 5 Permitting of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Hazardous Waste Management Regulations for TSDFs
- What Is a TSDF?
- Required RCRA Permits for TSDFs
- Situations That Require RCRA Permits for TSDFs
- RCRA Operating Permits
- Interim Status Permits
- Standardized Permits
- Special Forms of Permits for TSDFs
- Permit Exemptions and Partial Requirements
- The Permitting Process
- The Permit Application
- Duties Under All Permits
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 6 Management of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Applicability and General Operating Regulations
- Exceptions to the RCRA Regulations for the Disposal of Hazardous Waste
- Security Requirements
- Inspection Requirements
- Training TSDF Workers
- Operating Records and Reporting
- Retention of Operating Records
- Required Notices
- Defunct National Environmental Performance Track Program
- Waste Analysis
- Ignitable, Reactive, or Incompatible Wastes
- Documentation of Ignitable, Reactive, or Incompatible Wastes
- Location Standards for Storage, Treatment, and Disposal Areas
- Solid Waste Management Units
- Exemptions
- Additional Applicability Considerations for Solid Waste Management Units
- Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) Program
- CQA Program Requirements
- Required Programs and Protection Standards
- Groundwater Monitoring Requirements
- Unit 6 Management of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
- Detection, Compliance, and Correction Programs
- Use of a Manifest System
- Shipment Discrepancies
- Emergency Preparedness and Prevention
- Emergency Equipment Requirements
- Arrangements for Emergency Preparedness
- The Contingency Plan
- Distribution of the Contingency Plan
- The Emergency Coordinator
- Emergency Procedures
- Post-Emergency Procedures
- Post-Emergency Incident Report
- Closing a Facility
- Closure Procedures
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 7 Specific Regulations
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Management of Hazardous Waste Management Units
- Hazardous Waste Management Units
- Use and Management of Containers
- Container Must Be Compatible with Waste
- Special Requirements for Containers That Hold Ignitable or Reactive Wastes
- Monitoring the Condition of Containers
- Container Storage Areas for “Dry” Wastes
- Storage Requirements for Specific Dry Wastes
- Secondary Containment Systems for Liquid Wastes
- Tank Systems
- Secondary Containment Systems for Tanks
- Responding to Leaks or Spills
- Requirements for Surface Impoundments
- Response Action Plan
- Surface Impoundment Failures
- Waste Piles
- Land Treatment
- Regulation of Land Treatment
- Food-Chain Crops in Land Treatment Zones
- Landfill Design and Operation
- Other Landfill Requirements
- Incineration of Hazardous Waste
- Drip Pads
- Corrective Action Management Units
- Containment Buildings
- Requirements for Units That Store Munitions and Explosives
- Miscellaneous Waste Management Units
- What Is Not Considered to Be a Miscellaneous Waste Unit?
- Air Emission Standards
- Air Emission Standards for Process Vents
- Air Emission Standards for Equipment Leaks
- Air Emission Standards for Tanks, Surface Impoundments, and Containers
- Appendices to Part 264
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 8 Specific Wastes
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Overview of Specific Wastes
- Precious Metals
- Types of Materials That Contain Precious Metals
- Storage of Recyclable Materials That Contain Precious Metals
- Spent Lead-Acid Batteries
- Reclaiming Spent Lead-Acid Batteries
- Regulatory Exclusions
- Specific Regulations for Different Reclamation Procedures
- Storing Batteries Prior to Reclamation
- Military Munitions Considered to Be Solid Waste
- Transportation of Solid Waste Military Munitions
- Storage, Treatment, and Disposal of Solid Waste Military Munitions
- Notification Requirements for Exempted Military Munitions
- Additional Requirements Regarding Waste Military Munitions
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 9 Hazardous Waste Combustion
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Benefits of Hazardous Waste Combustion
- The Combustion Process
- Toxins Produced by Hazardous Waste Combustion
- Combustion Devices
- Types of Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (BIFs)
- Facilities That May Be Exempt from Regulations for BIFs
- BIFs That May Be Exempt from RCRA Regulations
- Management of Hazardous Waste Before They Are Burned
- Standards for Combustion of Hazardous Waste
- Standards for Combustion for Permitted Facilities
- Standards for Combustion for Interim Status Facilities
- Documentation and Compliance for Interim Status Facilities
- Hazardous Waste Analysis and Trial Burns
- Standards to Control Combustion Emissions
- The Tiered System of Regulation
- The Tier Management Decision
- Determining a Facility’s Optimum Tier
- Standards for the Control of Organic Emissions
- Test Burns
- Special Considerations for the Control of Organic Emissions
- Standards for the Control of Particulate Matter
- Standards for the Control of Metals Emissions
- Standards for the Direct Transfer of Hazardous Waste to BIFs
- The MACT Standards
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 10 Conditional Exemptions for Low-Level Mixed Waste
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- Applicability
- The Conditional Exemption for Storage and Treatment of LLMW
- Eligibility and Conditions for a Conditional Exemption for Storage and Treatment of LLMW
- Failure to Meet the Conditions for a Conditional Exemption for Storage and Treatment of LLMW
- Reclaiming a Lost Conditional Exemption
- When the LLMW Fails to Meet a Conditional Exemption
- Recordkeeping for a Conditional Exemption for the Storage and Treatment of LLMW
- Unit 10 Conditional Exemptions for Low-Level Mixed Waste
- Closure Requirements for a Facility with a Conditional Exemption for Storage and Treatment of LLMW
- The Conditional Exemption for the Transportation and Disposal of LLMW and Eligible NARM
- Maintaining the Conditional Exemption for the Transportation and Disposal of LLMW and Eligible NARM
- Notification Requirements for the Conditional Exemption for the Transportation and Disposal of LLMW and Eligible NARM
- Recordkeeping for the Conditional Exemption for the Transportation and Disposal of LLMW and Eligible NARM
- Reclaiming the Conditional Exemption for the Transportation and Disposal of LLMW and Eligible NARM
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 11 Land Disposal Restrictions
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- The LDR Program
- Leaching of Toxic Contaminants
- Groundwater Protection
- Three Key LDR Program Prohibitions
- The Disposal Prohibition
- The Dilution Prohibition
- The Storage Prohibition
- Types of Wastes
- Restricted Waste versus Prohibited Waste
- Wastes That Are Exempted from LDR Rules
- The LDR Program Treatment Standards
- Table of Treatment Standards for Hazardous Waste
- Treatment Alternatives
- Treatment Alternatives for Contaminated Soil
- Remediation for Soil Contamination
- Treatment Alternatives for Debris
- Treatment Alternatives for Lab Pack Wastes
- Variances on Treatment Standards
- Other Variances and Extensions
- Tracking and Recordkeeping Requirements
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 12 Management of Universal Waste
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- The Universal Waste Rule
- Applicability of the Universal Waste Rule
- Benefits of the Universal Waste Rule to Universal Waste Handlers
- States May Impose More Stringent Regulations
- What the Universal Waste Rule Does Not Do
- Universal Waste Handlers
- Accumulation Limits and Obligations for Universal Waste Handlers
- Universal Waste Transporters
- Universal Waste Destination Facilities
- Exporting Universal Waste for Disposal in a Foreign Country
- Batteries That Are Categorized as Universal Waste
- Other Categories of Batteries
- Recycling Spent Rechargeable Batteries
- Labeling and Marking Universal Waste Batteries
- Special Management Considerations for Batteries
- Pesticides Categorized as Universal Waste
- Further Information for Pesticide Categorizing
- Labeling and Marking Universal Waste Pesticides
- Labeling Requirements for Recalled Versus Unused Universal Waste Pesticides
- Mercury-Containing Equipment Categorized as Universal Waste
- Labeling and Marking Universal Waste Mercury-Containing Equipment
- Special Management Considerations Mercury-Containing Equipment
- Lamps That Are Categorized as Universal Waste
- Labeling and Marking Universal Waste Lamps
- Storage and Accumulation of Universal Waste
- Universal Waste Sites and Containers
- Recordkeeping and Notification for Universal Waste Rule
- Universal Waste Management
- Shipments of Universal Waste
- Managing Rejected Shipments of Universal Waste
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 13 Management of Used Oil
- Introduction
- Unit Objectives
- Key Terms
- RCRA Regulations for Used Oil
- Applicable Regulations
- Uses and Characteristics of Used Oil
- Waste Oil Versus Used Oil
- Other Oils That Do Not Qualify as Used Oils Under RCRA
- Mixtures of Used Oil and Hazardous Waste
- Criteria for Allowable Levels of Contaminants in Used Oil
- Halogen Content and the EPA Rebuttable Presumption for Used Oil
- Halogen
- Opting to Rebut the Presumption
- Treatment of Used Oil That Contains Hazardous Waste
- Exemptions and Exceptions to the Rebuttable Presumption
- Mixtures of Used Oil and “Characteristic” Hazardous Wastes
- Used Oil Contaminated with PCBs
- Who Qualifies as a Used Oil Generator?
- Guidelines for Generators of DIY Used Oil
- Used Oil Aggregation Points and Collection Centers
- Requirements for Used Oil Collection Centers
- Criteria for Used Oil Transporters
- Requirements for Used Oil Transporters and Transfer Facilities
- Storing Used Oil at Transfer Facilities
- RCRA Compliance for Used Oil Processors and Re-refiners
- Storage Requirements and Facility Standards for Used Oil Processors and Re-refiners
- Used Oil Burners
- RCRA Compliance for Used Oil Burners
- Standards for Used Oil Fuel Marketers
- Unit Summary
- Unit Quiz
- Unit 14 RCRA Course Summary
- Additional Resources
- Exam
