CHMM Waste Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a hazardous waste is determined to be a mixture of a listed waste and a solid waste, RCRA applies which rule?
- Derived-from rule
- Mixture rule (Correct answer)
- Contained-in policy
- De minimis exemption
Correct answer: Mixture rule
The mixture rule states that any mixture of a listed hazardous waste and a solid waste is itself a listed hazardous waste, regardless of the concentration of the listed waste.
Question 2: A facility generates wastewater that is regulated under the Clean Water Act and discharged via a permitted outfall. Is this wastewater subject to RCRA hazardous waste requirements?
- Yes, it must also be managed as RCRA hazardous waste
- No, it is exempt under the domestic sewage exclusion
- No, it qualifies for the CWA point source discharge exclusion (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if it exceeds TCLP thresholds
Correct answer: No, it qualifies for the CWA point source discharge exclusion
Wastewater discharged through CWA-permitted point sources is excluded from RCRA hazardous waste regulations under the point source discharge exclusion.
Question 3: Which characteristic of hazardous waste is defined by a flash point below 60°C (140°F)?
- Corrosivity
- Reactivity
- Ignitability (Correct answer)
- Toxicity
Correct answer: Ignitability
Ignitability is defined under RCRA as a liquid with a flash point less than 60°C (140°F), among other criteria including non-liquid ignitable wastes.
Question 4: What type of permit authorizes a facility to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste under RCRA Subtitle C?
- NPDES permit
- Part B permit (Correct answer)
- Title V permit
- UIC permit
Correct answer: Part B permit
A RCRA Part B permit (also called a hazardous waste permit) is required for facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste.
Question 5: Under RCRA, used oil that is mixed with listed hazardous waste is regulated as:
- Used oil only, if the mixture is less than 50% hazardous waste
- A hazardous waste subject to full Subtitle C requirements (Correct answer)
- A universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273
- A recyclable material exempt from RCRA
Correct answer: A hazardous waste subject to full Subtitle C requirements
Used oil mixed with listed hazardous waste becomes subject to full RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations, not just the used oil management standards.
Question 6: Which waste stream is specifically exempted from RCRA hazardous waste regulations as 'special wastes'?
- PCB-contaminated soil
- Household hazardous waste (Correct answer)
- Spent chlorinated solvents
- F003 waste mixtures
Correct answer: Household hazardous waste
Household hazardous waste (HHW) is specifically excluded from RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations under the household hazardous waste exemption.
Question 7: A CHMM is reviewing a facility's waste characterization. Which test method is used to determine if a solid waste exhibits the toxicity characteristic?
- EP Toxicity test
- Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) (Correct answer)
- Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP)
- Multiple Extraction Procedure (MEP)
Correct answer: Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)
The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) is the EPA-approved test method for determining whether a solid waste exhibits the toxicity characteristic.
CHMM Waste Management 3
When a hazardous waste is determined to be a mixture of a listed waste and a solid waste, RCRA applies which rule?