Virginia Law

A. At facilities handling containers used to transport solid wastes or regulated medical wastes on state waters, all containers, including empty containers, shall be secured and maintained so as to prevent the escape of wastes, liquids, and odors, and to prevent the loss or spillage of wastes during transport, normal handling, and in the event of an accident.

B. No person shall load solid waste or regulated medical waste into a container to be commercially transported on state waters if the container is not fully in compliance with 9VAC20-170-70. No person shall unload solid waste or regulated medical waste from a container that is not fully in compliance with 9VAC20-170-70. No person shall receive or unload from a vessel commercially transporting container containing solid waste or regulated medical waste if the container is not fully in compliance with 9VAC20-170-70. No person shall operate a vessel commercially transporting on state waters a container of solid waste or regulated medical waste if the container is not fully in compliance with 9VAC20-170-70.

C. The owner or operator of a receiving facility shall not receive solid wastes or regulated medical wastes in containers that do not meet the requirements of this chapter. Containers shall not be received without a properly signed manifest, as specified under subsection D of this section. The owner or operator of the receiving facility shall sign and date each copy of the manifest to certify that the waste covered by the manifest was received. The owner or operator shall note any significant discrepancies on each copy of the manifest. A copy of the properly signed manifest shall be delivered to the next transporter and, subsequently, delivered to the destination facility.

D. The manifest shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

1. An identification number of each container and a description of the container to include its total volumetric capacity and weight when empty;

2. A general description of the wastes being transported (solid wastes or regulated medical wastes) in each container;

3. The total quantity of the wastes being transported in each container;

4. The name and address of the generator, transporter or transporters, receiving facility, and destination facility; and

5. For transportation of solid wastes, a certification statement signed by the generator as follows:

"I hereby certify that the above-named materials meet the quality acceptable to the destination facility according to applicable federal and state regulations; have been properly described, classified and packaged; and are in proper condition for transportation according to applicable federal and state regulations."

For transportation of regulated medical waste, a certification statement signed by the generator as follows:

"I hereby certify that the above-named materials do not contain any radioactive, explosive, toxic, or hazardous waste as defined by 40 CFR Part 261 or the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations; have been properly described, classified, packaged, marked and labeled; and are in proper condition for transportation according to applicable federal and state regulations."

6. A certification of receipt of materials signed by the transporter or transporters, the owner or operator of the receiving facility, and the owner or operator of the destination facility.

E. Containers loaded with solid wastes or regulated medical wastes shall not be kept on site more than 72 hours once they arrive at the off-loading receiving facility by vessels during normal operation. In the event of inclement weather or equipment malfunction, containers may be kept on site up to seven days provided a written justification is filed with the appropriate department regional office. Loaded containers shall not be stacked more than two high in the loading or unloading areas.

F. Empty containers shall be maintained watertight to prevent any escape of residual wastes, liquids, and odors during normal handling and in the event of an accident. Any remaining liquids inside of the containers shall be managed as leachate.

G. The owner or operator of a receiving facility shall load and off-load solid wastes or regulated medical wastes to assure that any deposit of solid wastes or regulated medical wastes into state waters or adjoining shorelines is prevented. Receiving facilities shall employ containment or diversionary structures and any other appropriate equipment to limit the dispersion of wastes or leachate in the event of a spill.

H. In the event of a deposit of solid wastes or regulated medical wastes into state waters or adjoining shorelines as a result of any facility operation or failure of the integrity of the containers, the owner or operator of a receiving facility shall immediately notify the appropriate department regional office, the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802, the cleanup contractor as identified under subdivision 3 g of 9VAC20-170-110, the emergency coordinator of the local jurisdiction, the local office of the state Health Department, and any federal or state wildlife or natural resource authority or private natural resource management entity whose reserves could be affected by the incident. Such verbal notification shall be followed by written notification to the department regional office within five days.

I. In the event of a deposit of solid wastes or regulated medical wastes into state waters or adjoining shorelines, the owner or operator of a receiving facility shall immediately take all necessary actions, in accordance with the receiving facility's Response and Mitigation Plan as specified under subdivision 3 of 9VAC20-170-110, to contain and remove such waste.

J. The owner or operator of the receiving facility shall have a placard located at the facility where it will be readily visible to persons involved in waste handling indicating the individuals responsible for notifying the appropriate department regional office, the National Response Center, and the cleanup contractor as identified under subdivision 3 g of 9VAC20-170-110, in the event of a deposit of solid wastes or regulated medical wastes into state waters or adjoining shorelines.

1. The telephone numbers for the individuals responsible for notification shall be visibly and legibly displayed on the placard.

2. The telephone numbers for the individuals responsible for notification shall be designated by the owner or operator of the receiving facility.

3. The individuals responsible for notification must be a supervisory employee responsible for waste handling activities or an officer of the company owning or operating the receiving facility who is responsible for some aspect of waste handling activities (e.g., vice president in charge of operations).

K. Adequate numbers and types of properly maintained equipment shall be available for operation. Provision shall be made for substitute equipment to be available within 24 hours should the former become inoperable or unavailable. In the event of a deposit of solid wastes or regulated medical wastes into state waters or adjoining shorelines, and initiation of cleanup activities, operation shall not be continued unless adequate cleanup equipment is available on site and cleanup is proceeding in an effective and expeditious manner.

L. The receiving facility shall operate under the direct supervision of a Class I waste management facility operator licensed by the Board for Waste Management Facility Operators. During the facility's operating hours, the licensed operator shall be present at the facility or be readily available to direct the facility personnel in the proper handling of solid wastes or regulated medical wastes.

M. An operating record to include date, quantity by weight or volume, source and type of the wastes received and processed shall be maintained on site for at least three years and be made available to the department for examination or use when requested. A copy of the manifest shall be maintained in the operating record.

N. The owner or operator shall conduct daily inspections of the receiving facility. The inspection shall include, but is not limited to, visual inspection of the integrity of the containers, equipment, and loading, unloading, and receiving areas to ensure that the provisions of this chapter are met. The owner or operator shall keep an inspection log or summary including at least the date and time of inspection, the printed name and the handwritten signature of the inspector, a notation of observations made and the date and nature of any repairs or corrective action. The log or summary shall be kept on site as part of the operating record.

O. All new or modified receiving facilities shall be inspected by the department to verify that the provisions of this chapter and the permit have been met prior to the commencement of operations. All facilities shall be inspected by the department regional office on at least a quarterly basis to verify that the provisions of this chapter and the permit are met. These inspections may include, but are not limited to, documentation verification and visual inspections of the receiving facility and containers.

P. The specifications and methods adopted by the owner or operator to meet these waste handling practice standards shall be identified in the Operation and Maintenance manual.