What are the monitoring requirements for incinerators?

The owner or operator of an incinerator permitted under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) must meet these monitoring requirements (per 40 CFR 264.347):

• While incinerating hazardous waste, monitor on a continuous basis:
  • The combustion temperature, waste feed rate, and indicator of combustion gas velocity; and
  • Carbon monoxide at a point in the incinerator downstream of the combustion zone before it’s released into the atmosphere.
• Visually inspect the incinerator and associated equipment at least daily to check for leaks, spills, fugitive emissions, and signs of tampering.
• Test the emergency waste feed cutoff system and associated alarms at least weekly or, if able to demonstrate less frequent inspection is adequate, at least monthly to ensure proper operation.
• Record monitoring and inspection data in the operating record and maintain it for five years.

The owner or operator of an incinerator with interim status under RCRA must meet these monitoring and inspection requirements (per 265.347) when incinerating hazardous waste:

• Monitor instruments related to combustion and emission control at least every 15 minutes and make appropriate corrections immediately if needed to maintain steady-state combustion conditions.
• Inspect the complete incinerator and associated equipment at least daily for leaks, spills, and fugitive emissions.
• Check all emergency shutdown controls and system alarms to ensure proper operation.