Md. Code Regs. 26.13.10.14 - Small Quantity Handlers of Universal Waste Mercury-Containing Equipment - Specific Management Standards

A. General.

(1) A small quantity handler of universal waste shall manage universal waste mercury-containing equipment in a way that prevents release of any universal waste or any component of universal waste to the environment.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, "open original housing" means a tube or similar object that is open at one end and that holds mercury while the mercury performs a function in a piece of mercury-containing equipment.

B. A small quantity handler of universal waste:

(1) Shall place any universal waste mercury-containing equipment identified in §B(2) of this regulation in a container that is:

(a) Kept closed, unless waste is being added to or removed from the container;

(b) Structurally sound;

(c) Compatible with the contents of the mercury-containing equipment;

(d) Free of evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions; and

(e) Reasonably designed to prevent the escape of mercury into the environment by volatilization or any other means;

(2) Shall place the following universal waste mercury-containing equipment in a container that satisfies the requirements of §B(1)(a)-(e) of this regulation:

(a) Mercury-containing equipment that shows evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions;

(b) Mercury-containing equipment with noncontained elemental mercury, such as equipment that contains mercury in:

(i) An open original housing that has not been sealed in a way that prevents release of mercury to the environment during accumulation or transportation; or

(ii) A part of the device into which mercury has escaped from the part of the device designed to hold mercury, such as a valve that separates mercury in the mercury-containing equipment from the rest of the device; and

(c) Ancillary equipment, such as a valve or other component of mercury-containing equipment that has come into contact with mercury and been removed from the mercury-containing equipment;

(3) May remove mercury-containing ampules from universal waste mercury-containing equipment, if the handler:

(a) Removes and manages the ampules in a manner designed to prevent breakage of the ampules;

(b) Removes ampules only over or in a containment device, such as a tray or pan, sufficient to collect and contain any mercury released from an ampule if the ampule were to break;

(c) Ensures that a mercury clean-up system is readily available to immediately transfer any mercury resulting from spills or leaks, as required by §B(3)(d) of this regulation;

(d) Immediately transfers any mercury resulting from spills or leaks from broken ampules from the containment device required by §B(3)(b) of this regulation to a container that meets the requirements of COMAR 26.13.03.03-3 -.03-10;

(e) Ensures that the area in which ampules are removed is well ventilated and monitored to ensure compliance with applicable exposure levels for mercury established by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) program;

(f) Ensures that employees removing ampules are thoroughly familiar with proper waste mercury handling and emergency procedures, including transfer of mercury from containment devices to appropriate containers;

(g) Stores removed ampules in closed, nonleaking containers that are in good condition; and

(h) Ensures that packing materials adequate to prevent breakage during storage, handling, and transportation are used in packing removed ampules in the container required by §B(3)(g) of this regulation;

(4) May remove an open original housing holding mercury from universal waste mercury-containing equipment if the handler:

(a) Immediately seals the original housing holding the mercury with an air-tight seal to prevent any release of mercury to the environment; and

(b) In handling the open original housing and the original housing after it has been sealed, manages the housing in accordance with the requirements of §B(3) of this regulation that apply to mercury-containing ampules;

(5) May remove from mercury-containing equipment any ancillary equipment that has come in contact with mercury and may manage it as universal waste mercury-containing equipment if the handler:

(a) Removes and manages the ancillary equipment in a manner designed to prevent releases of mercury;

(b) Removes the ancillary equipment only over or in a containment device, such as a tray or pan, sufficient to collect and contain any mercury that may be released from the ancillary equipment; and

(c) Manages the ancillary equipment during and after its removal in accordance with the requirements of §B(3)(c)-(h) of this regulation that apply to intact or broken mercury-containing ampules; and

(6) Shall comply with the following requirements if the handler removes mercury-containing ampules or ancillary equipment from mercury-containing equipment, or if the handler seals mercury from mercury-containing equipment in its original housing:

(a) Determine whether the following meet the definition of hazardous waste in COMAR 26.13.02.03 s:

(i) Mercury or clean-up residues resulting from spills or leaks; and

(ii) Other solid waste generated as a result of the removal of mercury-containing ampules, housings, or ancillary equipment, such as the remaining mercury-containing device;

(b) If a waste identified in §B(6)(a) of this regulation meets the definition of hazardous waste in COMAR 26.13.02.03 s, the handler:

(i) Shall manage the waste in compliance with all applicable requirements of COMAR 26.13.01-26.13.10; and

(ii) Is considered to be the generator of the waste and shall manage it in accordance with the requirements of COMAR 26.13.03; and

(c) If a waste identified in §B(6)(a) of this regulation does not meet the definition of hazardous waste in COMAR 26.13.02.03 s, the handler shall manage the waste in compliance with applicable federal, State, or local solid waste regulations.

Notes

Md. Code Regs. 26.13.10.14

Regulations .14 adopted effective November 1, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1647)
Regulation .14 amended effective May 1, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 809); amended effective 48:9 Md. R. 359, eff. 5/3/2021