Hazardous waste: underground storage tanks.

The California Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials proposes significant changes to hazardous waste management regulations through legislation that modifies accumulation limits, consolidation procedures, and treatment requirements. The bill revises five sections of the Health and Safety Code to refine oversight of hazardous waste storage and handling.

The legislation establishes that generators accumulating up to 20 kilograms of hazardous waste onsite are not classified as storage facilities and permits consolidation of containers holding 20 kilograms or less into larger vessels. These consolidated containers must maintain detailed logs documenting accumulation dates and quantities. The bill also removes certain federal compliance requirements for facilities handling less than 1,000 kilograms of monthly hazardous waste.

For laboratory operations, the bill outlines a hierarchy for treatment procedures, prioritizing National Research Council recommendations, followed by peer-reviewed methods, and manufacturer guidelines when other protocols are unavailable. The legislation allows notifications and certifications to be submitted through the statewide information management system as an alternative to certified mail.

Regarding underground storage tanks, the measure expands exclusions to encompass tanks containing dielectric fluid in addition to hydraulic fluid when used in closed-loop mechanical systems for elevators, lifts, electrical cooling, insulation, and similar applications. This modification clarifies which containment systems fall under the regulatory framework.

The changes aim to create more precise standards for hazardous waste management while maintaining environmental and safety protections through enhanced documentation and oversight mechanisms. Local agencies must implement these revised requirements without state reimbursement, as the modifications primarily involve refining existing regulatory definitions and procedures.