edited by MIRIAM C.
NAGEL
A w n High S c h ~ l Awn. CT 06001
Development of a Hazardous Waste Disposal Glossary William C. Penker
In May 1987, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced an 18-month program to deal with hazardous wastes in the schools. The program began in April 1987 with an informational meeting and has a conclusion date of November 1988. The program was established through the joint efforts of seven state agencies and associations, and private industry representatives. As indicated by the program planning committee, the program ". . . will lead to the removal of wastes from all our school buildings".' Included in the program are an educational component for school hazardous waite coordinarurs and a statewide clean sween. Additional activities are nlanned to include districtlevel management plans, district and regional inventories, and long-range planning.= As the program progresses, it is obvious that an increasing number of professional and support personnel will become involved. Boards of education and administrators will be involved as expenditures are incurred and decisions are made. With the inclusion of nontechnical personnel on the increase, the potential for confusion over new terminology also increases. The terminology in the area of hazardous waste is extensive. The Wisconsin statute dealing with the Employes' Right to Know Law (101.58 to 101.599) lists a t least 19 definitions. The state administrative code dealing with hazardous waste (NR 181) lists over 115 definitions. Other items are defined within the body of the code. The US.Department of Transportation (DOT) describes 22 categories of hazardous materiak3 Other sources, codes, and guidelines use additional terminology. To alleviate some of the problems associated with the interpretation of many new terms, I prepared the following glossary of 45 terms related to hazardous waste generation,
Wisconsin Dept. of Public instruction, letter to school administrators. 1987. ~ o o ~ e m t iEducational vi Service Agency #lo, memo to school administrators. 1987. "DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels"; Chart 7; US. Department of Transportation September 1982 (revised). 'Young, J. A. J. Chern. ~ d u c1983, 60,490.
classification, storage, and disposal. The terms were selected as a basic vocabulary. T h e selection was based, in part, upon a knowledee of t h e chemical stores in mv school district. Additional consideration was given to including terms with manaeerial imolications. The elossarv is broken down as follows:
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20 definitionsrelated to DOT classifications(noted as DOT) 13 statutory definitions(noted as stat.) 12 abbreviations and other technical terms (noted as other)
The initial presentation of the glossary was made to the Administrative Staff and the Board of Education of the School District of Neillsville. While some terms are relevant only to the Wisconsin statutes, the Hazardous Waste Glossary, and a bibliography of the references used, is offered here to help others with the same need to assist nontechnical persons involved with hazardous waste management. Anyone using this list should replace the Wisconsin terms with whatever similar terminoloev -.is used in their state. Other sources, codes, and guidelines use additional terminology.' AB99 (stat.). Apraposedact to amend 814.04; and tocreate 146.155 of the statutes, relating to the collection and publication of information about hazardous chemical substances, granting rule-making authority and providing penalties. Also known as the Hazardous Chemicals InformationAct. accumulation point (other).A location at which hazardous waste is accumulated. accumulation point, satellite (other). A location at or near the place of generation of hazardous waste and under the operator's control at all times. contingency plan (stat.). A davment setting out an organized, planned, and coordinated course of action to he followed in the event of fire, explosion, or discharge of hazardous wastes or hazardous waste constituents into the environment that has the potential far endangering human health or the environment. corrosive/caustie material (DOT). Any liquid or solid that can destroy skin tissue, or any liquid that has a severe corrosive effect on metals. cryogen (DOT).A gas that has been cooled to less than -150 OF to bring about its liquefaction. empty container rule (stat.). A container is empty if no more material can he removed by the method commonly used to empty that type of container. In addition, the container must have less than 1 in. of waste or less than 3% by weight remaining if the container held 110 gallons or less or less than 0.30% by weight if more than 110 gallons. EPA (other).Environmental Protection Agency. EPA identification number (stat.). An identification number, issued upon application, used to identify generators, transporters, and treaters of hazardous waste.
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Number 8
August 1988
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etiologic agent (DOT). A living organism that may cause human disease. explosive A (DOT). Those materials or devices that present a maximum hazard through mass detonation. explosive B (DOT). Those materials or devices that present a flammable hazard and function by progressive burning. explosive C (DOT). Those materials or devices that contain restricted amounts of either class A or class B explosives, or both, hut present a minimum hazard. flash point (other). The temperature a t which a liquid evaporates and evolves a high enough concentration of vapor a t or near the surface of the liquid to form an ignitable mixture with air. compressed gas (DOT). Any material or mixture having in the container absolute pressure exceeding 40psi a t 70 'F, or havingan absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi a t 130 OF. flammable gas (DOT). A gas that will burn. nonflammable gas (DOT). A compressed gas that is not flammable, but may support combustion. liquefied gas (DOT). A gas that is partially liquid a t a temperature of 70. OF. .~ nonliquefied gas (DOT). A gas that is entirely gaseous a t 70 OF. compressed gas i n solution (DOT). A nonliquefied gas that is dissolved a t high pressure in a solvent. hazardous characteristics (stat.). One of four characteristics that define a substance as being hazardous and defined in NR 181.15. hazardous suhstance (stat.). A term including, hut not limited to, substances that are toxic, corrosive, flammable, irritants, strong sensitizers, or explosives as determined by the DNR. Wis. Stat. 144.01 .~ 14m). ,~ ...,. ~
halardous subslance spill istat.). Any discharge of a hsardous rubstance into the cn\,ironmenr. l ' h r spill must be immediately repwted to t h LXvi~im ~ of Emprgenry Guvernment (24-h phme: 608-266-3232). hazardous waste (stat.). A waste that is specifically listed as hazardousin NR 181.16 (Tables 11.111.. IV.. V). . . or i t is not listed but it exhibits a hazardous characterbtic. i r r i t a n t (DOT). A liquid or solid substance, which upon contact with fire or exposure to the air, gives off dangerous and intensely irritating fumes. kilogram (other). 1000 grams; 2.2 pounds; the mass (weight) of 1L , or 1000 mL of water. combustible liquid (DOT). A liquid that has a flash point a t or above 100 O F and below 200 OF. flammahle liquid (DOT). A liquid that has aflash point below 100 "F. Wis. Stat. 341.49 (1)soecifies a flash ooint of 80 O F or helow. MSDS (Material sf& 'Data Sheet) r;.therl. An infurmation sheer yruvidd hy a chemical supplier and or man~farturerthat licts w r h data as alternate chemiral names, listr of hazardous ingredients, physical and chemical properties, emergency telephone numhers, fire and explosion data, compatibility, emergency first aid, health hazards, spill and disposal procedures, protective equipment. NFPA (other). National Fire Protection Association. NR 181 (stat.). Chapter NR 181 of the Wisconsin Administrative
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Journal of Chemical Education
Code regulates the generation, storage, treatment, transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste. oxidizer (DOT). A substance that yields oxygen readily tostimulate T ~ cornbusrion P of organic and inorganic matrer. pII ( o t h ~ rA ~ .sralr iadirating the aciditv
