ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY TECHNOLOGY 150 - HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS

3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory, 4 units

Catalog Description
Overview of hazardous waste regulations with emphasis on generator compliance, site investigation and remediation, permitting, enforcement and liability. Lecture portion explains the hazardous waste regulatory framework, introduces students to the wide variety and types of environmental resources available, and develops research skills in the hazardous waste area. Laboratory portion complements the lectures by providing hands-on application of the regulations at the technician level. Proper methods of preparing a hazardous waste manifest, labeling of storage containers, sampling and analysis, preparing a Phase I Environmental Audit, and selecting environmental consultants are among the many skills developed in the laboratory.

Prerequisite
None

Course Objectives
Students will be able to:
1) Fill out a hazardous waste manifest
2) Read hazardous waste labels
3) Describe generator regulatory compliance concerning hazardous waste
4) Perform a rudimentary site investigation of a hazardous waste generator
5) Demonstrate proper sampling procedures
6) Describe agencies that regulate specific hazardous wastes
7) Describe proper transportation and shipping of hazardous wastes

Minimum Student Materials
None

Minimum Instructional Facilities
Standard lecture classroom

Course Content
1) Regulatory Overview
2) Generator Requirements I
a. Cradle-to-Grave liability
b. Storage requirements
3) Generator Requirements II
a. Hazardous waste minimization
b. Fees
c. Bi-annual reporting
d. Extremely hazardous waste permits
e. Enforcement
4) Generator Requirements III
a. Clean Water Act
b. Porter Cologne
c. Waste discharge requirements
5) Generator Requirements IV
a. Clean Air Act
b. The bubble system
c. Local AQMD regulations
6) Transportation, Treatment and Disposal
7) Superfund
8) Site Mitigation
9) Sampling and Analysis
10) RI/FS Process
11) Special Topics
a. Permitting
b. Infectious waste
c. Household hazardous waste
12) Real Estate Transactions

Method of Instruction
1) Lecture and discussion
2) Class projects
3) Field trips
4) Lab assignments and projects

Method of Evaluation
A grading system will be established by the instructor and implemented uniformly. Grades will be based on demonstrated proficiency in subject matter determined by multiple measurement for evaluation, one of which must be essay exams, skills demonstration, or where appropriate, the symbol system.
1) Verbal and written communication skills, quizzes, exams
2) Active participation and discussion of lectures
3) Attendance
4) Hands-on activities for technical proficiency

Texts and References
1) Required: Dufour, J. T., ed. Hazardous Materials Handbook. California Chamber of Commerce, 1989.
2) Supplemental: None