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Treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) are the final destination in the hazardous waste management process under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). These facilities provide temporary storage for and final treatment or disposal of hazardous wastes.
Because TSDFs manage large volumes of hazardous waste, they must comply with strict regulations that establish how facilities and hazardous waste management units are operated and additional safety precautions to protect human health and natural resources.
Any facility that stores, treats, and/or disposes of hazardous waste is considered a TSDF and is, therefore, regulated as one. All TSDFs must obtain a RCRA permit to engage in hazardous waste management activities. Additionally, all TSDFs are subject to the standards of 40 CFR Part 264/265 unless specifically exempt. These regulations include:
Before beginning any hazardous waste management activities, the TSDF owner or operator must apply for and receive a RCRA permit for the facility. The permit lists the types of waste management activities the facility may conduct and the conditions under which it can conduct the activities. The RCRA permit also includes the applicable regulations from Part 264/265.
Part 264 regulates TSDFs built after RCRA was enacted (permit status), while Part 265 regulates TSDFs that existed before RCRA (interim status). All TSDFs must apply for a RCRA permit.
General facility standards
These standards incorporate good housekeeping requirements. When operating a TSDF:
Unit-specific technical requirements
TSDFs may use different types of units to treat, store, and dispose of hazardous waste. Examples include containers, tank systems, landfills, and incinerators. In addition to meeting the general facility requirements:
Contingency plan and emergency procedures
A contingency plan is required to minimize hazards from fires, explosions, or any unplanned releases of hazardous waste. For each TSDF:
At least one emergency coordinator must always be either at the facility or on call to respond and implement the emergency response procedures listed in 264.65/265.65.
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
All required records and plans for the facility must be available for inspection upon request.
When receiving wastes from off-site:
Owners and operators of TSDFs must also comply with other recordkeeping regulations: