CHMSP cheat sheet

RCRA hazardous waste = solid waste that is listed (F, K, P, U) or exhibits a characteristic: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity (40 CFR 261).

RCRA generator categories: very small quantity generator <100 kg/month; small quantity generator 100–1,000 kg/month; large quantity generator ≥1,000 kg/month; acute hazardous waste has lower limits.

CERCLA releases at or above a reportable quantity require notification to the National Response Center; EPCRA section 304 also requires state and local notification.

EPCRA Tier II inventory is due March 1 annually for hazardous chemicals at or above 10,000 lb on site, or at lower thresholds for extremely hazardous substances.

DOT HMR: the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table sets proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, labels, and packaging requirements.

OSHA HazCom 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires safety data sheets with 16 sections and GHS-aligned labels: product identifier, hazard statements, pictograms, signal word, precautionary statements, supplier.

Land disposal restrictions (40 CFR 268) require treatment to meet standards before land disposal or prohibit disposal.

A uniform hazardous waste manifest tracks waste from generator through transporter to the TSDF; the generator retains a signed copy and confirms receipt.

BOD5 measures oxygen consumed by microbes over 5 days at 20°C; COD measures chemical oxygen demand and includes nonbiodegradable organics.

First-order decay: C = C0 e^(−kt); half-life t1/2 = 0.693/k.

Henry's law: Cwater = KH × Pgas; high KH favors volatilization; low KH favors partitioning to water.

Log Kow correlates with lipid solubility and bioaccumulation; higher log Kow generally means greater bioconcentration but very high values may reduce bioavailability.

Darcy flux q = K i; seepage velocity v = q/n_e, where K is hydraulic conductivity, i is gradient, and n_e is effective porosity.

Clean Water Act NPDES permits regulate point-source discharges; TMDLs allocate pollutant loads when water bodies fail standards.

Clean Air Act NAAQS cover CO, lead, NO2, ozone, particulate matter, and SO2.

NEPA decision path: categorical exclusion, environmental assessment leading to finding of no significant impact, or environmental impact statement.

pH = −log[H+]; each unit is a tenfold change in hydrogen ion activity.

LD50/LC50: lower values indicate greater acute toxicity; route, species, and exposure duration affect comparability.

Dose-response: NOAEL is highest dose without adverse effect; LOAEL is lowest with adverse effect; uncertainty factors derive reference doses.

ADME: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion determine toxicant fate; metabolism may detoxify or bioactivate.

IARC groups: 1 carcinogenic to humans; 2A probably carcinogenic; 2B possibly carcinogenic.

Organic contaminant mobility often increases with lower Kow and higher water solubility; sorption reduces mobility.

Redox reactions transfer electrons; oxidation loses electrons, reduction gains electrons; redox potential indicates oxidizing or reducing conditions.

Hydrolysis, photolysis, and biodegradation are abiotic or biotic transformation pathways that can change toxicity and persistence.

OSHA PELs are enforceable 8-hour TWA limits; ACGIH TLVs and NIOSH RELs are nonregulatory or recommended.

Hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE last.

Respiratory protection: atmosphere-supplying respirators required for IDLH or oxygen-deficient atmospheres; APF estimates protection.

Permit-required confined space: test oxygen, flammables, and toxics before entry; acceptable oxygen is 19.5–23.5% by volume.

HAZWOPER 29 CFR 1910.120 covers emergency response and cleanup; Level A is a fully encapsulating vapor-protective suit with SCBA.

Noise: OSHA 8-hour PEL is 90 dBA; hearing conservation program at 85 dBA; 5-dB exchange rate.

Heat stress assessed by WBGT; acclimatization and work/rest cycles reduce risk.

OSHA recordkeeping: work-related fatalities within 8 hours; in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and eye loss within 24 hours.

NIMS/ICS: span of control typically 3–7 with optimum 5; Unified Command is used when multiple agencies have jurisdiction.

HAZWOPER emergency response requires a site-specific preplan, PPE, decontamination, and incident command.

EPCRA: LEPCs develop emergency plans for extremely hazardous substances; facilities notify SERC and LEPC.

Hot zone = contaminated or exposure area; warm zone = contamination reduction; cold zone = support and command.

Shelter-in-place is chosen when evacuation would increase exposure; close windows, doors, HVAC, and seal openings.

CERCLA and Clean Water Act release notifications go to the National Response Center; EPCRA 304 notifications go to SERC and LEPC.

Emergency action plan elements: reporting, alarms, evacuation routes, accounting, and rescue or medical duties.

Initial isolation and protective action distances increase with release size and wind conditions; downwind protection is primary.

Treatment train: physical (sedimentation, filtration, air stripping, carbon), chemical (neutralization, precipitation, oxidation/reduction), biological, thermal.

TCLP estimates leachability of hazardous constituents from waste; results determine toxicity characteristic and land disposal compliance.

Solidification/stabilization immobilizes contaminants but does not destroy them; long-term stability and leaching must be monitored.

RCRA incinerators must achieve 99.99% DRE for principal organic hazardous constituents; dioxin/furan standards may require 99.9999%.

Subtitle C landfill design: double liner, leachate collection and removal, groundwater monitoring, closure, and financial assurance.

SVE removes VOCs from unsaturated soil; air sparging adds air below the water table to strip VOCs into the vadose zone.

Pump-and-treat hydraulically contains dissolved plumes but may require decades; PRBs treat groundwater in situ.

Bioremediation relies on microbial degradation; nutrients, electron acceptors, temperature, and bioavailability control rates.