EPA Waste Disposal & Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum on-site accumulation time allowed for a Small Quantity Generator (SQG) of lead hazardous waste before shipment to a disposal facility?
- 90 days
- 180 days
- 270 days (Correct answer)
- 365 days
Correct answer: 270 days
Under RCRA, Small Quantity Generators may accumulate hazardous waste on-site for up to 270 days before it must be shipped to a permitted treatment, storage, or disposal facility.
Question 2: Disposable lead-contaminated PPE such as coveralls and gloves from an abatement project must be handled by:
- Washing and reusing them on the next project
- Sealing in labeled containers for characterization and disposal per waste testing results (Correct answer)
- Donating them to other contractors
- Air-drying and storing for future use
Correct answer: Sealing in labeled containers for characterization and disposal per waste testing results
Contaminated disposable PPE must be sealed in labeled containers and disposed of according to waste characterization results, and managed as hazardous waste if TCLP testing so indicates.
Question 3: Who is authorized under RCRA to transport lead hazardous waste from an abatement site to a disposal facility?
- Any licensed commercial driver
- An EPA-registered hazardous waste transporter complying with DOT regulations (Correct answer)
- A certified lead abatement supervisor with a company vehicle
- Any contractor employee holding a valid driver's license
Correct answer: An EPA-registered hazardous waste transporter complying with DOT regulations
RCRA requires that hazardous waste be transported only by EPA-registered transporters who also comply with DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Act requirements.
Question 4: Lead-contaminated water generated during wet scraping or wet sanding in lead abatement must be:
- Discharged into any available floor drain
- Collected and disposed of in compliance with Clean Water Act and local pretreatment standards (Correct answer)
- Poured outdoors away from the building perimeter
- Mixed with solid waste and bagged for disposal
Correct answer: Collected and disposed of in compliance with Clean Water Act and local pretreatment standards
Lead-contaminated water must be collected, characterized, and disposed of in accordance with Clean Water Act requirements and local publicly owned treatment works (POTW) pretreatment standards.
Question 5: Waste characterization testing in lead abatement projects is performed primarily to:
- Estimate the total volume of debris generated
- Determine whether waste exceeds the TCLP threshold and requires hazardous waste management (Correct answer)
- Satisfy local building permit requirements
- Document the age of the lead paint that was removed
Correct answer: Determine whether waste exceeds the TCLP threshold and requires hazardous waste management
Waste characterization via TCLP testing determines whether lead-containing debris exceeds the 5 mg/L threshold, triggering RCRA hazardous waste management requirements.
Question 6: Which agency, in addition to EPA, has regulatory jurisdiction over the transportation of lead hazardous waste on public roads?
- OSHA
- DOT (Department of Transportation) (Correct answer)
- HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development)
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Correct answer: DOT (Department of Transportation)
The U.S. Department of Transportation regulates the safe transportation of hazardous materials, including lead waste, under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.
Question 7: Under EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, renovation waste containing lead paint must be:
- Left at the job site for the building owner to dispose of
- Contained and disposed of per applicable federal, state, and local waste disposal requirements (Correct answer)
- Mixed with regular construction debris in a dumpster
- Collected by the municipality as ordinary household waste
Correct answer: Contained and disposed of per applicable federal, state, and local waste disposal requirements
EPA's RRP Rule requires that lead-containing renovation waste be properly contained and disposed of in compliance with all applicable waste disposal regulations.
EPA Waste Disposal & Environmental Compliance 2
What is the maximum on-site accumulation time allowed for a Small Quantity Generator (SQG) of lead hazardous waste before shipment to a disposal facility?