INTRODUCTION

The improper management of hazardous waste poses a serious threat to the health of American citizens and their environment.  Some threats posed by the mismanagement of hazardous waste include chemical accidents or spills of hazardous waste that close highways, or illegal dumping that contaminates property.  The improper disposal of hazardous waste has polluted streams, rivers, lakes, and other surface waters; killing aquatic life, destroying wildlife, and stripping areas of vegetation.  In other cases, careless waste disposal has been linked to respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and elevated levels of toxic materials in the blood and tissue of humans and domestic livestock.  Since 1980, under RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle C), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed and began managing a comprehensive program to ensure hazardous waste is managed safely from the moment it is generated, during transportation, treatment, or storage, until disposal.  This “cradle to grave” hazardous waste management system establishes requirements for:

  • hazardous waste identification,
  • hazardous waste and universal waste recycling,
  • hazardous waste generators,
  • hazardous waste transporters,
  • treatment, storage, and disposal facilities,
  • combustion,
  • permitting,
  • corrective action,
  • enforcement, and
  • state authorization.

This guide was developed as a tool to assist small businesses in understanding the hazardous waste management requirements.  It will help you safely handle hazardous waste, comply with the regulations, reduce your cost of disposing of hazardous waste, and reduce or eliminate pollutants, solid wastes, or hazardous waste through using less hazardous material or by using more efficient process or procedures.  The cost of complying with the hazardous waste requirements can sometimes be high; however, the environmental and financial consequences of noncompliance are much higher.  Specific information covered in this guide includes the following topics:

  • Hazardous Waste
  • Halogenated Solvent User
  • Generator
  • Transporter
  • Used Oil
  • Universal Waste
  • Electronic Waste and Cathode Ray Tubes (E-Waste and CRTs)
  • Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF)
  • Small Business Pollution Prevention (Small Business P2)

For the most part, Montana has adopted the existing federal rules governing the management of hazardous waste.  Those rules are found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR).  The Montana rules that adopt and incorporate the rules found in 40 CFR are set forth in Title 17, Chapter 53 of the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM 17.53).  Additionally, ARM 17.53 includes rules that are effective only in Montana.  The appropriate federal and state rules are shown throughout this compact disc (CD).

MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
WASTE & UNDERGROUND TANK MANAGEMENT BUREAU
P.O. BOX 200901
HELENA , MT 59620-0901
TELEPHONE: (406) 444-5300 FAX: (406) 444-1374

To access the DEQ Hazardous Waste website click the link below:

 www.deq.mt.gov/hazwaste/