EPA RCRA Hazardous Waste Management 264-SubpartDD: Part 264 Subpart DD: Containment buildings

Applies to containment buildings used to store or treat hazardous waste, which are not land disposal under Part 268 if they meet the subpart; units must be certified by a qualified Professional Engineer before operation (264.1100). Buildings must be completely enclosed with floor, walls and roof against precipitation, wind and run-on; the floor and walls must be strong enough for the waste, personnel and heavy equipment and resist failure from pressure gradients, settlement, compression, uplift, waste contact, climate and daily operation (meeting ACI or equivalent standards where built of concrete); surfaces in contact with waste must be chemically compatible; a primary barrier must prevent migration and be durable against equipment; where liquids are present, a secondary containment system with a leak detection system (built to specified standards, including a drainage layer and liner) must exist unless variances apply; controls must prevent fugitive dust emissions (no visible emissions); and doors and openings must be managed. Operation requires a primary barrier kept free of significant cracks, gaps and corrosion; a maximum waste height to prevent overflow; tracking controls and decontamination areas; fugitive dust controls; inspection at least once every seven days of monitoring and leak detection equipment, the building and its surroundings, recorded in the operating record; and on detecting a release to the environment or damage, entering the discovery in the operating record, removing the affected portion from service, determining repairs, notifying the Regional Administrator within 7 days of discovery and giving written notice of the repair steps and schedule within 14 working days, then notifying on completion with a registered PE's verification that repairs and clean-up followed the plan. Areas with and without secondary containment must be separated and liquids kept out of areas without it (264.1101). At closure all residues, contaminated components, subsoils, structures and equipment are removed or decontaminated, or the building closes as a landfill with post-closure care (264.1102).