EPA Waste Disposal & Environmental Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RCRA, lead-containing waste from an abatement project must be managed as hazardous waste if it exceeds which TCLP leachate threshold?
- 1 mg/L
- 5 mg/L (Correct answer)
- 10 mg/L
- 15 mg/L
Correct answer: 5 mg/L
EPA's Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) threshold for lead is 5 mg/L; waste exceeding this concentration must be managed as hazardous waste under RCRA.
Question 2: Which federal law establishes the cradle-to-grave regulatory framework governing hazardous waste from lead abatement projects?
- CERCLA
- RCRA (Correct answer)
- TSCA
- Clean Air Act
Correct answer: RCRA
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, including lead abatement debris.
Question 3: What document is required by RCRA to track hazardous waste shipments from a lead abatement site to a permitted disposal facility?
- Lead disclosure form
- Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (Correct answer)
- Certificate of occupancy
- OSHA safety data sheet
Correct answer: Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest must accompany all hazardous waste shipments and is required by RCRA to track waste from generation to final disposal.
Question 4: Which RCRA generator category applies to a lead abatement contractor generating between 100 and 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month?
- Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)
- Small Quantity Generator (SQG) (Correct answer)
- Large Quantity Generator (LQG)
- Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
Correct answer: Small Quantity Generator (SQG)
Under RCRA, contractors generating 100–1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month are classified as Small Quantity Generators with specific storage time and reporting obligations.
Question 5: How long must a hazardous waste generator retain copies of completed Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests under RCRA?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
RCRA requires hazardous waste generators to retain manifest copies and related records for a minimum of 3 years from the date the waste was accepted by the transporter.
Question 6: Lead-contaminated soil removed during remediation that passes the TCLP test is typically classified as:
- Hazardous waste requiring a licensed disposal facility
- Non-hazardous solid waste eligible for disposal at an approved facility (Correct answer)
- Radioactive waste requiring special handling
- Universal waste subject to reduced regulatory requirements
Correct answer: Non-hazardous solid waste eligible for disposal at an approved facility
Soil that passes the TCLP test does not exhibit the toxicity characteristic and may be managed as non-hazardous solid waste at a state-approved disposal facility.
Question 7: Which labeling information is required by RCRA on hazardous waste containers stored at a lead abatement site?
- Contractor name and project number only
- 'Hazardous Waste,' waste description, and accumulation start date (Correct answer)
- Color-coded labels without written information
- Weight of contents and name of disposal facility
Correct answer: 'Hazardous Waste,' waste description, and accumulation start date
RCRA requires hazardous waste containers to display the words 'Hazardous Waste,' a description of the contents, and the date accumulation of waste in that container began.
EPA Waste Disposal & Environmental Compliance 1
Under RCRA, lead-containing waste from an abatement project must be managed as hazardous waste if it exceeds which TCLP leachate threshold?