SIN 899-4
Waste Management Services
The services EQ provides in SIN 899-4 include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Data collection
- Data development
- Analyses of comments
- Regulatory and economic analyses
- Feasibility analyses
- Hazard assessments
- Exposure assessments
- Risk analyses
- Waste characterization studies
- Recommendation of management strategy including recycling options
- Studies for collection and transfer of waste
- Source reduction
- Evaluation of energy/fuel options
- Human health risk assessments
- Ecological risk assessments
- Hazardous materials programs
- Hazard communications programs
- RCRA and CERCLA site investigation, remedial analyses, and remedial design
- Landfill closure/post-closure plan
A brief discussion of our capabilities in providing these services follows.
As the solid and hazardous waste regulatory requirements increase in both volume and complexity, government agencies need to be able to properly characterize their waste steams to ensure compliance and cost-effective storage and disposal methods. EQ has extensive experience in the characterization, sampling, transportation, and disposal of waste streams generated from a variety of sources. We have assisted these facilities in developing waste management plans to allow plant personnel to best manage and minimize wastes generated during facility operations.
EQ also has extensive expertise and experience in characterization and disposal of unknown drums of waste that may be found at facilities. For example, EQ completed a review and characterization of over 50 hazardous and nonhazardous waste streams for one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the United States. This characterization involved a review of MSDSs, generator knowledge, and analytical data, and resulted in a one-third reduction in hazardous waste sent off site for disposal and a commensurate cost savings.
Our waste characterization efforts may be used to develop waste management plan components. For example, EQ staff completed a waste characterization for a facility that generated a variety of solvent, paint, and plasticizer wastes. This project involved the review of MSDSs and extensive work with plant personnel to fully characterize the waste streams. As part of this project, EQ prepared an easy-to-use manual to be used by plant personnel to determine the proper disposal method for each waste stream.
EQ conducts feasibility analyses, hazard assessments, exposure assessments, and risk analyses with the goal of ultimately reducing the cost of waste management for our clients. We employ these analyses to develop waste management plans, which may be either waste stream-specific or comprehensive plant- or facility-wide plans, and typically incorporate such strategies as recycling, reuse, and source reduction.
EQ can provide municipal refuse management services, including collection, transportation, disposal via landfills and incineration, composting, and recycling/refuse derived fuels. EQ staff members have provided technical assistance in these areas to EPA Regions 5, 6, and 7. For example, we have conducted feasibility assessments for using municipal refuse as a recycled fuel to energy source at 13 municipalities. This assessment encompassed technical, regulatory, and economic comparative analyses, primarily of landfilling with recycling/ power plants.
EQ also offers wastewater and storm water monitoring and management services. EQ staff are trained in the proper use and calibration of field sampling equipment and EPA-approved sampling methodologies. We maintain a complete inventory of automatic water samplers, velocity meters, rain gauge recording systems, flow meters, confined-space entry monitors and equipment, and field instrumentation.
Wastewater management projects we have completed include the design and construction of a 2,000-gpm carbon water treatment system for minimizing pesticide wastes (DDT, DDD, DDE, ITBB, PBB) at the Pine River Velsicol Chemical site; the design and construction of a 1,200-gpm settling, filtration, and polishing plant for dredging PCB sediment at Manistique Harbor, Michigan; and the design and construction of an 80-gpm water treatment system for an automotive plating facility in Virginia.