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A wide variety of businesses handle used oil, from service stations to vehicle rental companies to manufacturing facilities. Federal EPA’s used oil management standards are a set of “good housekeeping” requirements for used oil handlers. State regulations governing the management of used oil may be more stringent than federal EPA’s.
Scope
Under many circumstances, used oil is a hazardous waste and must be managed as such if it is to be disposed of. However, EPA’s used oil management program allows the handling of used oil under less stringent standards as long as it is managed according to the regulations and the oil is ultimately sent to a recycler, recycled, or burned for fuel.
Regulatory citations
Key definitions
- Used oil: Any oil which has been refined from crude or synthetic oil and, as a result of use, storage, or handling, has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or loss of original properties, but which may be suitable for further use and may be economically recyclable.
Summary of requirements
South Carolina state requirements regarding used oil management include some regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- Used oil shall not be managed in surface impoundments or waste piles unless the units are subject to regulation under R.61-79.264 or 265.
- Used oil cannot be used for road oiling, dust control, weed abatement, or other similar uses which have potential to cause harm to the environment.
- Each person who intends to operate, modify, or close a used oil recycling facility shall obtain an operation or closure permit from the Department prior to operating, modifying, or closing the facility.
- Even if a burner has previously notified EPA of hazardous waste management activities under section 3010 of RCRA and obtained an identification number, the used oil burner must renotify EPA to identify used oil burning activities. In addition, the burner must obtain a permit from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
- A used oil burner must report to the DHEC, in the form of a letter, on an annual basis (by March 15 of each year).
- Used oil collection centers and used oil transporters must submit annual reports for the previous year to the DHEC on or before March 15.
- Used oil transporters must prepare a used oil manifest as designated by the Department for each used oil shipment accepted for transport. A copy of the used oil manifest shall accompany each vehicle at all times.