- Ensure that sites are assessed and remediated to levels that protect human health and the environment;
- Verify that waste management units or facilities are taken out of service and closed properly
- Facilitate revitalization of contaminated properties.
To achieve these goals, we work with representatives of many different types of facilities, including industrial and hazardous waste permitted and non-permitted and federal facilities.
Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP)
The current cleanup standards are given in the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) rules of 30 TAC Chapter 350, effective September 23, 1999 (24TexReg7415). Although there was a transition period from the previous 1993 “Risk Reduction Standards” of 30 TAC Chapter 335 Subchapter S, the majority of cleanups are now being done under TRRP.
Considerations When Planning Projects
One way to approach cleanup projects and navigate through the rules is to keep these basic questions in mind: “For this facility, unit or area:
- …am I doing a facility/unit closure or a cleanup?…or both?”
- …what is/was the source of contamination? Was hazardous waste involved?”
- …why am I doing the closure/cleanup? What’s my motivation? (Examples: Self-implemented action under state rule? Action required by permit? Enforcement action?)”
Although these are not the only issues to consider when planning or evaluating a project, understanding the basic context will help guide your work and will also help in communicating with the TCEQ.
Industrial and Hazardous Waste Tips
1. Take Steps to Mitigate Hazards
2. Provide Proper OSHA Training to Staff
3. Be Ready for the Unexpected
4. Maintain Emergency Response Contractors
5. Maintain On-site Spill Kits
6. Conduct Final Secondary Cleanup Sampling, Analysis, and Agency Reporting
7. Keep your workplace clean and organized
8. Improve organization with floor marking
9. Establish lockout-tagout procedures
10. Meet hazardous and non-hazardous chemical tank and key pipe marking requirements
11. Provide proper PPE at all times
12. Schedule and perform routine inspections
13. Expand visual and vocal communications thought-out your facility
Information Credit: TCEQ