Frequently Asked Questions
A. No – If all of the proper documentation is submitted complete and with the proper signatures approval can usually be obtained within 1-2 business days of receipt of the sample.
A. Yes – Per our Waste Analysis Plan, once a new profile has been reviewed by our approvals committee we must receive a minimum one-quart representative sample of the waste stream. Waste streams that will be shipped in small drum or tote volumes may be exempt from this requirement.
A. Yes –We are permitted to accept 230,000,000 gallons per year and have on-site bulk storage of 1.75 million gallons. TMDP has injected an average of 60 million gallons per year over the last five years into our two permitted hazardous waste deepwells. We are able to accept most waste streams 24/7, unloading up to five loads simultaneously.
A. No – We accept waste via tank truck, vacuum truck, railcar, roll-off box, vacuum box, drums, and totes.
A. No – Our in-house lab is used for our fingerprint analysis and compatibility testing only. It does not replace the generator's need for certified testing.
A. Yes – Transporters must meet certain entry requirements. Please check with your customer service representative or account manager to confirm your chosen transporter is on our approved list. If not, please have the transporter review our Transporter Requirements and submit the required documentation for review.
A. No – We can accept waste streams with 0-14 pH without neutralization.
A. No – We have an extensive EPA code acceptance list and have experience safely handling concentrated acids, bases, reactives, and other problem wastewaters from the chemical, petrochemical, refining, galvanizing, plating, military, and many other industries.
A. Yes – By permit we do not accept biological (red bag/medical), radioactive, TSCA regulated PCB’s, (polychlorinated biphenyls), explosives, asbestos, and municipal garbage. We limit loads with headspace vapors of toxic compounds, e.g., H2S, SO2, dioxins, and HCN, as well as liquids with certain compounds with high toxicity, e.g., phenol. Certain wastes that may not be accepted include emulsions, waters that are incompatible with our tank contents or generate solids when mixed with the contents of our tanks, and waters with higher concentrations of chemicals corrosive to our tanks and piping, e.g., methylene chloride, and hydrofluoric acid.
A. Yes – Because of our disposal technology the way a stream filters is important to us. Before streams can be disposed of via deepwell they must first filter through a nominal one micron filter. If waste will not pass through these “polishing” filters, it will not flow easily into the formation. Also, our permit does not allow for deepwell injection of solids and/or organics which can cause filtration problems requiring pre-treatment.
A. Yes – At TMDP we have tiers of filtration based on the specific handling necessary for each stream and they are priced accordingly. Examples of our tiers are:
First tier “neat” filtration – an undiluted 200 ml sampling of the waste stream filters through a five micron filter under vacuum in less than 30 seconds.
If the sample fails the “neat” filtration test it is then mixed with compatible tank contents (either acid or caustic depending on the pH of the stream) at the following ratios:
Second tier “1:1” filtration –a 1:1 ratio to see if it filters through a five micron filter under vacuum in less than 30 seconds. If it fails:
Third tier – “3:1” filtration - a 3:1 ratio to see if it filters through a five micron filter under vacuum in less than 30 seconds. If it fails:
Fourth tier – “10:1” filtration - a 10:1 ratio to see if it filters through a five micron filter under vacuum in less than 30 seconds. If it fails:
Fifth tier – “20:1” filtration - a 20:1 ratio to see if it filters through a five micron filter under vacuum in less than 30 seconds. If it fails:
Sixth tier – “WNF” – if the stream will not filter after it has been diluted at 20:1 it is subject to review for alternate treatment method.
A. Yes – We can accept reactive waste streams such as cyanide and sulfide with no set limit in the liquid. However, it is our standard safety and operating procedure to not open, sample, or accept streams with greater than 4.7 ppm cyanides and/or 10 ppm sulfides in the headspace.
A. Yes – Our EPA "10,000 - Year No Migration Petition" exempts injected waste from land ban prohibition. Non-deepwell waste and process residue are subject to applicable land disposal regulations.
A. No – Hazardous deepwells are well regulated and safe. There are no discharges to surface waters. As a matter of fact, the EPA has said in the past that "Class I underground injection wells are safer than virtually all other waste disposal practices" EPA Report: 570/9-91-031.
A. No – Deepwell permits are very stringent. There is a requirement to maintain a minimum annulus pressure 100 psi greater than the injection pressure. Should a leak occur in the injection tube, the annulus fluid will be forced by pressure into the injection pipe and permitted formation. Of course there is also cement casing outside the annulus. If annulus pressure is lost, the well is down immediately. Normally a workover is required before the well can re-start. The design, operation, and permits for our deepwells act as barriers to groundwater problems. Our compliance with the longstanding and comprehensive EPA Underground Injection Control Program protects surface waters as well as groundwater sources of drinking water.
A. Yes – We are able to manage a number of special wastes which give generators a valuable resource. Some of these include: low concentrations of hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, caustic sulfides, cyanide solutions, high TOC subcategory D001 waters, acid/organic combinations.
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