25123.3. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Liquid hazardous waste” means a hazardous waste that meets the definition of free liquids, as specified in Section 66260.10 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 1994.
(2) “Remediation waste staging” means the temporary accumulation of non-RCRA contaminated soil that is generated and held onsite, and that is accumulated for the purpose of onsite treatment pursuant to a certified, authorized, or permitted treatment method, such as a transportable treatment unit, if all of the following requirements are met:
(A) The hazardous waste being accumulated does not contain free liquids.
(B) The hazardous waste is accumulated on an impermeable surface, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) of at least 20 mils that is supported by a foundation, or high density polyethylene of at least 60 mils that is not supported by a foundation.
(C) The generator provides controls for windblown dispersion and precipitation runoff and run-on and complies with any stormwater permit requirements issued by a regional water quality control board.
(D) The generator has the accumulation site inspected weekly and after storms to ensure that the controls for windblown dispersion and precipitation runoff and run-on are functioning properly.
(E) The staging area is certified by a registered engineer for compliance with the standards specified in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive.
(3) “Transfer facility” means any offsite facility that is related to the transportation of hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, loading docks, parking areas, storage areas, and other similar areas where shipments of hazardous waste are held during the normal course of transportation.
(b) “Storage facility” means a hazardous waste facility at which the hazardous waste meets any of the following requirements:
(1) The hazardous waste is held for greater than 90 days at an onsite facility. The department may establish criteria and procedures to extend that 90-day period, consistent with the federal act, and to prescribe the manner in which the hazardous waste may be held if not otherwise prescribed by statute.
(2) The hazardous waste is held for any period of time at an offsite facility that is not a transfer facility.
(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the waste is held at a transfer facility and any one of the following apply:
(i) The transfer facility is located in an area zoned residential by the local planning authority.
(ii) The transfer facility commences initial operations on or after January 1, 2005, at a site located within 500 feet of a structure identified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (c) of Section 25227.
(iii) The hazardous waste is held for a period greater than six days at a transfer facility that is located in an area that is not zoned industrial or agricultural by the local planning authority.
(iv) The hazardous waste is held for a period greater than 10 days at a transfer facility that is located in an area that is zoned industrial or agricultural by the local planning authority.
(v) The hazardous waste is held for a period greater than six days at a transfer facility that commenced initial operations before January 1, 2005, is located in an area zoned agricultural by the local planning authority, and is located within 500 feet of a structure identified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (c) of Section 25227.
(B) (i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a transfer facility located in an area that is not zoned residential by the local planning authority is not a storage facility, if the only hazardous waste held at the transfer facility is hazardous waste that is generated as a result of an emergency release and that hazardous waste is collected and temporarily stored by emergency rescue personnel, as defined in Section 25501, or by a response action contractor upon the request of emergency rescue personnel or the response action contractor, and the holding of that hazardous waste is approved by the department.
(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, “response action contractor” means any person who enters into a contract with the department to take removal or remedial action pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) in response to a release or threatened release, including any subcontractors of the response action contractor.
(4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the hazardous waste is held onsite for any period of time, unless the hazardous waste is held in a container, tank, drip pad, or containment building pursuant to regulations adopted by the department.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a generator that accumulates hazardous waste generated and held onsite for 90 days or less for offsite transportation is not a storage facility if all of the following requirements are met:
(i) The waste is non-RCRA contaminated soil.
(ii) The hazardous waste being accumulated does not contain free liquids.
(iii) The hazardous waste is accumulated on an impermeable surface, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) of at least 20 mils that is supported by a foundation, or high density polyethylene of at least 60 mils that is not supported by a foundation.
(iv) The generator provides controls for windblown dispersion and precipitation runoff and run-on and complies with any stormwater permit requirements issued by a regional water quality control board.
(v) The generator has the accumulation site inspected weekly and after storms to ensure that the controls for windblown dispersion and precipitation runoff and run-on are functioning properly.
(vi) The generator, after final offsite transportation, inspects the accumulation site for contamination and remediates as necessary.
(vii) The site is certified by a registered engineer for compliance with the standards specified in clauses (i) to (vi), inclusive.
(5) The hazardous waste is held at a transfer facility at any location for any period of time in a manner other than in a container.
(6) The hazardous waste is held at a transfer facility at any location for any period of time and handling occurs. For purposes of this paragraph, “handling” does not include the transfer of packaged or containerized hazardous waste from one vehicle to another.
(c) The time period for calculating the 90-day period for purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), or the 180-day or 270-day period for purposes of subdivision (h), begins when the facility has accumulated 100 kilograms of hazardous waste or one kilogram of extremely hazardous waste or acutely hazardous waste. However, if the facility generates more than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste or one kilogram of extremely hazardous waste or acutely hazardous waste during any calendar month, the time period begins when any amount of hazardous waste first begins to accumulate in that month.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), a generator of hazardous waste that accumulates waste onsite is not a storage facility if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The generator accumulates a maximum of 55 gallons of hazardous waste, one quart of acutely hazardous waste, or one quart of extremely hazardous waste at an initial accumulation point that is at or near the area where the waste is generated and that is under the control of the operator of the process generating the waste.
(2) The generator accumulates the waste in containers other than tanks.
(3) The generator does not hold the hazardous waste onsite without a hazardous waste facilities permit or other grant of authorization for a period of time longer than the shorter of the following time periods:
(A) One year from the initial date of accumulation.
(B) Ninety days, or if subdivision (h) is applicable, 180 or 270 days, from the date that the quantity limitation specified in paragraph (1) is reached.
(4) The generator labels any container used for the accumulation of hazardous waste with the initial date of accumulation and with the words “hazardous waste” or other words that identify the contents of the container.
(5) Within three days of reaching any applicable quantity limitation specified in paragraph (1), the generator labels the container holding the accumulated hazardous waste with the date the quantity limitation was reached and either transports the waste offsite or holds the waste onsite and complies with either the regulations adopted by the department establishing requirements for generators subject to the time limit specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) or the requirements specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (h), whichever requirements are applicable.
(6) The generator complies with regulations adopted by the department pertaining to the use and management of containers and any other regulations adopted by the department to implement this subdivision.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (4) of subdivision (b), hazardous waste held for remediation waste staging shall not be considered to be held at a hazardous waste storage facility if the total accumulation period is one year or less from the date of the initial placing of hazardous waste by the generator at the staging site for onsite remediation, except that the department may grant one six-month extension, upon a showing of reasonable cause by the generator.
(2) (A) The generator shall submit a notification of plans to store and treat hazardous waste onsite pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), in person or by certified mail, with return receipt requested, to the department and to one of the following:
(i) The CUPA, if the generator is under the jurisdiction of a CUPA.
(ii) If the generator is not under the jurisdiction of a CUPA, the notification shall be submitted to the agency authorized, pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3, to implement and enforce the requirements of this chapter listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404.
(B) If, after the notification pursuant to subparagraph (A), or during the initial year or the six-month extension granted by the department, the generator determines that treatment cannot be accomplished for all, or part of, the hazardous waste accumulated in a remediation waste staging area, the generator shall immediately notify the department and the appropriate local agency, pursuant to subparagraph (A), that the treatment has been discontinued. The generator shall then handle and dispose of the hazardous waste in accordance with paragraph (4) of subdivision (b).
(C) A generator shall not hold hazardous waste for remediation waste staging unless the generator can show, through laboratory testing, bench scale testing, or other documentation, that soil held for remediation waste staging is potentially treatable. Any fines and penalties imposed for a violation of this subparagraph may be imposed beginning with the 91st day that the hazardous waste was initially accumulated.
(3) Once an onsite treatment operation is completed on hazardous waste held pursuant to paragraph (1), the generator shall inspect the staging area for contamination and remediate as necessary.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, remediation waste staging and the holding of non-RCRA contaminated soil for offsite transportation in accordance with paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) shall not be considered to be disposal or land disposal of hazardous waste.
(g) A generator who holds hazardous waste for remediation waste staging pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) or who holds hazardous waste onsite for offsite transportation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) shall maintain records onsite that demonstrate compliance with this section related to storing hazardous waste for remediation waste staging or related to holding hazardous waste onsite for offsite transportation, as applicable. The records maintained pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for review by a public agency authorized pursuant to Section 25180 or 25185.
(h) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), a generator of less than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste in any calendar month who accumulates hazardous waste onsite for 180 days or less, or 270 days or less if the generator transports the generator’s own waste, or offers the generator’s waste for transportation, over a distance of 200 miles or more, for offsite treatment, storage, or disposal, is not a storage facility if all of the following apply:
(A) The quantity of hazardous waste accumulated onsite never exceeds 6,000 kilograms.
(B) The generator complies with the requirements of Section 262.16 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(C) The generator does not hold acutely hazardous waste or extremely hazardous waste in an amount greater than one kilogram for a time period longer than that specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
(2) A generator meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) who does not receive a copy of the manifest with the signature of the owner or operator of the facility to which the generator’s waste is submitted or is unable to verify through the e-Manifest system that the facility has received the waste and signed the manifest, within 60 days from the date that the hazardous waste was accepted by the initial transporter, shall submit a report to the department along with a legible copy of the manifest indicating that the generator cannot confirm the delivery or receipt of the generator’s waste with the owner or operator of the facility.
(i) The department may adopt regulations that set forth additional restrictions and enforceable management standards that protect human health and the environment and that apply to persons holding hazardous waste at a transfer facility. A regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare, and may be adopted as an emergency regulation in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 153, Sec. 1. (AB 698) Effective January 1, 2022. Superseded on January 1, 2024; see amendment by Stats. 2022, Ch. 258.)
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