national institutes of health drain discharge guide drain disposal guide.pdf · 2018-12-31 ·...

NIH Drain Discharge Guide Page i

National Institutes of Health Drain Discharge Guide

Version 1, November 2018

Author

Division of Environmental Protection, ORF

NIH Drain Discharge Guide

ii

Table of Contents

Acronyms/Chemical Formulas and Abbreviations ................................................ iii

Overview .............................................................................................. 1

Waste Policy .......................................................................................... 1

Allowable Sanitary Sewer Discharges .............................................................. 1

Specific Chemicals Approved for Discharge to Sanitary Sewer .......................................... 2

Antibiotics ................................................................................................... 3

Table 2 Antibiotics .......................................................................................... 3

Processes Approved for Sanitary Sewer Discharge ....................................................... 4

Prohibited Discharges ................................................................................ 6

General Discharge Prohibitions – EPA/Local POTW ...................................................... 6

Notices of Violations and Civil Citations .................................................................. 8

Prohibited Processes to Drain List ......................................................................... 9

Pharmacy Wastes ......................................................................................... 10

EPA Specific Chemicals ................................................................................... 11

Hazardous Waste ......................................................................................... 13

Requests For Exceptions to the Discharge Policy ................................................ 13

Construction, Maintenance & Renovation ....................................................... 14

Water Discharge Policy ............................................................................. 14

Discharges to Sanitary Sewer ............................................................................ 14

Discharges to Storm Drains .............................................................................. 15

NIH Drain Discharge Guide

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Acronyms/Chemical Formulas and Abbreviations

Acronyms Definition

BSA Bovine serum albumin

CaCl Calcium Chloride

CFR Code of Federal Regulation

DEP Division of Environmental Protection DMEM Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium

DOHS Division of Occupational Health and Safety

EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

ELISA Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

g Gram HCL Hydrogen Chloride

HEPES (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid)

KCl Potassium Chloride

Kg Kilogram

L Liter

LB Broth Lysogeny broth MgCl Magnesium Chloride

mL Milliliter

mM Millimolar

MPW Medical Pathological Waste

NaCl Sodium chloride NaH2PO4 Monosodium phosphate

NaHCO3 Sodium bicarbonate

NaOH Sodium Hydroxide

PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls

PEG Polyethylene Glycol

POTW Publicly owned treatment works RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RMPI Roswell Park Memorial Institute medium

SDS Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

WSSC Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

YT Medium Yeast Extract Tryptone Medium

µg Microgram

NIH Drain Discharge Guide Page 1

Overview

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s

medical research agency. The NIH has over 3000 labs on the Bethesda campus, including local off-campus and

regional facilities, where biomedical research is conducted including animal facilities, clinical and patient care areas

and industrial activities. This document provides guidance based on policy, permits, and regulations, for materials

which must be collected for disposal and a select group of chemicals which can be discharged under specific

conditions. Please note the lists are not all inclusive and inquiries should be directed to the Chief of the Waste and

Resource Recovery Branch, Division of Environmental Protection 301-496-7990. In North Carolina: Environmental

Protection Specialist, Health and Safety Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 984-

287-3400. In Montana: Chemical Waste Management, The Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) 406-363-9216.

Waste Policy

The NIH waste policy is found in Manual Chapters 3032 and 3033 Waste Minimization1 and Mercury2. The policies

require, where feasible, the elimination or reduction of the amounts and toxicity of wastes at their source, and

proper management of all unavoidable wastes, including their characterization, collection, labeling, packaging,

storage, recycling, transportation, treatment, and final disposal. The policy applies to all NIH personnel, contractors

and/or anyone involved with the generation of wastes or waste management and support services at all NIH facilities,

including but not limited to the Bethesda main campus, local off-campus facilities (Rockville, Poolesville, Frederick,

and Baltimore), and regional facilities (North Carolina, Montana, and Arizona).

Disposal of chemical wastes, including pharmaceutical wastes, via the sanitary sewer, is not permitted unless

authorized by the NIH Division of Environmental Protection. (see Page 13 for requesting authorization)

Allowable Sanitary Sewer Discharges

The Laboratory Process and Chemical Constituents listed below are ALLOWED for discharge. These non-hazardous

chemicals are manufacture reagents deemed safe for discharge down the sanitary sewer when unused. Solid

chemicals no longer needed or in use must be collected and disposed of through the NIH chemical waste services

and not discharged down the sanitary sewer. NIH encourages the use of the chemical waste services to dispose of

all chemical waste when there is any question regarding the presence of hazardous constituents. Note that mixtures

should be evaluated closely for any substances which might be hazardous.

1 NIH Manual Chapter https://policymanual.nih.gov/3032 2 NIH Manual Chapter https://policymanual.nih.gov/3033

https://policymanual.nih.gov/3032

https://policymanual.nih.gov/3033


Specific Chemicals Approved for Discharge to Sanitary Sewer

The chemicals listed below are suitable for discharge if no other hazardous additives/preservatives are included; Any chemical mixture or process outside this list requires an application and approval for discharge by NIH Division of Environmental Protection.

Table 1 Chemicals Approved for Discharge

Chemical Compound/Reagent CAS # Potential concerns

Amino acids & ammonium, sodium and potassium salts of these acids

Ammonium chloride 12125-02-9

Ammonium sulfate 7783-20-2

Buffers pH 6-10

Calcium Salts

DMEM (1X), liquid (high glucose) N/A

DMEM (1X), liquid N/A

DMEM, high glucose, pyruvate N/A

HEPES-Buffered Saline N/A

Lithium Salts

Media without Antibiotics or metals

Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) N/A

Potassium salts

Sheath Fluid (BD Facsflow) 342003* No Sodium Azide

Sheath Fluid (Isoslow) 8546859* No Sodium Azide

Sheath Fluid (NovoFlow) 871B607* No Sodium Azide

Sodium Salts

Sodium Hypochlorite Solution (bleach)+ 5% or less for treating biological waste

Sugars

Tris buffered saline N/A

Tris/Acetate/EDTA (TAE) N/A without preservatives.

Tris/Borate/EDTA (TBE) N/A without preservatives.

Tris-HCL N/A

Water, DI Water, Ice

*Product number for Chemical Reagent

+Bleach should only be discharged when used, straight bleach should be disposed as a hazardous waste


Antibiotics

Antibiotics can be inactivated by autoclaving/boiling and discharged down the drain according to the table below.

Antibiotics which are not inactivated by autoclaving should be collected as chemical waste.

Table 2 Antibiotics3

Specific Antibiotic Treatment requirements

Amphotericin Autoclave & Discharge

Ampicillin Autoclave & Discharge

Blasticidian Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Carbenicillin Autoclave & Discharge

Chloramphenicol Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Ciprofloxacin Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Enrofloxacin Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Erythromycin Autoclave & Discharge

Gentamycin Autoclave & Discharge

Kanamycin Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Nalidixic acid Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Neomycin Autoclave & Discharge

Penicillin Autoclave & Discharge

Puromycin Autoclave & Discharge

Streptomycin Autoclave & Discharge

Sulphadoxine Autoclave & Discharge

Tetracycline Autoclave & Discharge

Vancomycin Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Zeomycin Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

Zeozin Dispose as Chemical waste w/disinfectant

3 Antibiotics are, in the event not listed in table or any uncertainty, to be treated as Infectious waste; KIs rules for laboratory waste management and emissions of chemicals into wastewater


Processes Approved for Sanitary Sewer Discharge4

Red items are exceptions an should be treated and/or collected as specified

Table 3 Approved Discharge Prcesses Laboratory Process Chemical Constituents Comments

Animal treatment/process

Instant Ocean Sea Salt: •Sodium Chloride

•Magnesium Chloride •Sodium Sulfate

•Calcium Chloride •Potassium Chloride

Approved without conditions.


Ecolab Neutral disinfecting cleaner: •Dodecyl ammonium chloride, •Di-methyl benzyl Ammonium

chloride

Approved for discharge when product used in diluted form according to manufacturer’s recommendation,

diluted at 1:64 concentration. Raw product should be collected for

disposal through the NIH Chemical Waste Service.


Quatricide PV solution: •1-Decanaminium, N-decyl-N,N-

dimethyl-, chloride, •Tetra sodium EDTA, •Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium

chloride

Approved for discharge when product used in diluted form according to manufacturer’s recommendation,

diluted at 1:64 concentration. Raw product should be collected for

disposal through the NIH Chemical Waste Service.

Bacterial-Cell-Tissue Culture/Disinfectant/ WITH

Antibiotics

Luria broth: • peptone

• yeast extract, • Sodium Chloride.

Antibiotics:

Ampicillin must be autoclaved prior to discharging down the drain. Media/cultures containing the antibiotic Kanamycin must be

collected in a waste container with 1:10 dilution of bleach and disposed

through the NIH chemical waste services.

Bacterial-Cell-Tissue Culture/Disinfectant/ WITH

Antibiotics

Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium: • penicillin

• streptomycin • L-glutamine

RPMI medium:

• penicillin • streptomycin • L-glutamine

McCoys 5A Medium:

• penicillin • streptomycin •0 L-glutamine.

Approved with Bacterial-Cell-Tissue-Culture w/ Antibiotics (Penicillin

and/or Streptomycin) is autoclaved prior to discharging down the drain.

4 List will be periodically updated;




Blotting Techniques (Specify Western, Southern Northern etc)

Western Blot Wash Buffer: •Phosphate buffered Saline (PBS)

•Tween-20 •non-fat dry milk.

Unused Tween 20 must be collected for disposal through the NIH chemical

waste services.

Brain slice perfusion

•NaCl, •KCl,

•MgCl2, •CaCl2,

•NaH2PO4, •NaHCO3, •Glucose

Approved without conditions.

Cell culture growth for protein purifications

•LB broth Antibiotics: •ampicillin

•carbenicillin •tetracycline.

Bacteria: E. coli (non-pathogenic)

Autoclaved media containing Tetracycline, Ampicillin or

Carbenicillin can be discharged to drain. Autoclaved media containing Kanamycin or Chloramphenicol must

be collected and disposed through the NIH chemical waste service.

Column Chromatography

•Guanidine Hydrochloride •Urea Approved without conditions

Column Chromatography • Tris pH7.4 • NaCl • KCl

•KH2PO4

The Ethanol based cleaning solution is NOT approved for disposal in the

sanitary sewer and is to be collected for disposal through the NIH chemical

waste services.

Column Chromatography • Tris •sodium phosphate • sodium chloride.

Approved without conditions

Flow Cytometry Cell Analyzer

•Leinco ClearFlow Sheath Fluid •Sodium hypochlorite 10%

(household bleach)



•BD FACSFlow Sheath Fluid •Blood Blank Saline pH 7.0-7.2



•CytoFLuid •Sodium hypochlorite


Gel Electrophoresis

Rinse/wash polycarbonate buffer tank

Approved to rinse and discharge the empty polycarbonate buffer tank into

the Sanitary Sewer. All TAE running buffer waste and dye residue must be

disposed into chemical waste container prior to rinse and discharge

into Sanitary Sewer.

Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KH buffer) for rodent heart perfusion

Krebs-Henseleit buffer Approved, recommend that KH buffer be decontaminated with a 1:10

dilution of bleach prior to disposal to the sanitary sewer.




Lithium Acetate Transformation

•PEG 3350 •Sorbitol

•Lithium Acetate •EDTA •NaOH

•Tris HCl •Tris base

Approved without (Must not contain DimethylSulfoxide

(DMSO), 2-mercaptoethanol, or Dithiothreitol).

Prohibited Discharges

General Discharge Prohibitions – EPA/Local POTW

The following prohibitions apply5:

Dilution

Increasing the usage of potable or process water by the Industrial User in any manner to achieve compliance with

limitations is prohibited. (See item n. below)

Falsifying Information

Any person who knowingly makes any false statements, representation, or certification in any application, records,

plan, or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to these regulations, or who falsifies, tampers

with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required under these regulations, shall be

prosecuted by the POTW. In addition to prosecution by the POTW, the person may also be liable for criminal and/or

civil penalties under applicable State and Federal law.

5 Typical Discharge Authorization Permit (DAP)


Table 4 Specific Discharge Prohibitions The following pollutants and categories of pollutants shall not be discharged to the sanitary sewer

Pollutant / Category Action

Any waste classified as a Hazardous Waste - See page 12 for material identified as hazardous wastes

Collect as Hazardous Waste

Temperature. Any liquids or vapors having a temperature greater than 140° Fahrenheit (60° C)

Adjust temperature or collect as Hazardous Waste

Flammable or Reactive materials. Prohibited materials include but shall not be limited to; gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, picrates, azides, hydrides and sulfides, and any other substances determined to be a fire and/or explosion hazard


Any malodorous/noxious or toxic gases, vapors, fumes, or other substances that, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are capable of creating a public nuisance, a hazard to human health or the environment


Any liquids, solids, or gases that, singly or by interaction with other material, cause excessive coloration, (E.g., Coomassie stain, Ponceau stain, Methylene blue and similar)


Any lint, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metals, glass, bones, wood, plastics, stone dusts, rags, paunch manure, butcher's offal, pipettes, tubes, plastic items or any solids, liquids, or other substances capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater system

Collect as Hazardous or Solid Waste as appropriate

Pathogenic Wastes. Any substance containing viable pathogenic or parasitic organisms that could pose a health hazard or interfere with the proper operation of the wastewater collection or treatment systems

Dispose as MPW or Treat with disinfectant & handle

as Hazardous Waste

Viscous Substances. Any substances that may solidify or become viscous


Oils. Any wastes containing petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil


Any glycol compound or derivative Collect as Hazardous Waste

Corrosive Solutions (pH below 6 or above 10.0) Collect as Hazardous Waste Mercury. Any substance containing mercury in amounts greater than 1 µg/l Collect as Hazardous Waste

Perchloroethylene or Perchloroethylene-containing products Collect as Hazardous Waste

Other Substances of Concern

Electrophoresis Gels and Solutions:

Due to the variety of chemicals used with this process, this material should be collected as hazardous waste and

not discharged to the sewer. There could be exceptions; these will need to be evaluated through the discharge

approval process.

https://spapps.od.nih.gov/sites/DEPAuthorizations/SitePages/Home.aspx



Nanotechnology: Due to the rapidly emerging nature of nanomaterials research and production, specific regulatory

guidance for proper disposal of nanomaterials is not currently available. All wastes generated from nanotechnology

should be managed as hazardous chemical waste6,7.

Other Prohibited Materials:

• Medical Pathological Waste (MPW)/Biomedical Waste

• Radioactive Wastes

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

• Pesticides

Note for Container Rinsate – In most cases, the first rinsate (with water and/ or acetone) from containers or beakers,

which previously contained any of the prohibited or limited substances mentioned in the document must not be

disposed into a sink or drain and must be collected as hazardous waste. Subsequent rinses, in which very low

concentrations of these materials exist, may be discharged to a sink or drain. The exception to this rule is if the

container contained a P-listed chemical in which case the container must be triple rinsed and the rinsate from each

rinse must be collected as hazardous waste. (P-Listed & U-Listed Waste)

Notices of Violations and Civil Citations

Notices of Violation and Civil Citations are written to document actions taken when violations of the POTW Local

Regulations occur at an address or by a group of individuals or particular individual licensed or un-licensed.

A Notice of Violation includes specific areas found to be in non-compliance with the applicable defined regulations

with the Local POTW Code.8

They may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Health, Safety and Hazardous Conditions (Imminent threat to public health, welfare or safety or to the WSSC

systems)

2. Negligence, Incompetence or Misconduct while providing services as a licensed individual.

Additionally, Civil Citations may be written for each of the items noted above. Fines can be written for each violation

and depending the nature of the offense they can be written each day of non-compliance or until corrective action

to abate the Violation has been satisfied.

6 MIT - Best Practices for Handling Nanomaterials in Laboratories 7 Harvard Nanomaterial Safety 8 WSSC Notices of Violations and Civil Citations

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=43a12e65fc62ad2c4af072873b86c581&mc=true&node=pt40.26.261&rgn=div5#se40.28.261_133

https://ehs.mit.edu/site/sites/default/files/files/University_Best_Practices.pdf

https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/sites/ehs.harvard.edu/files/nanomaterial_safety.pdf

https://www.wsscwater.com/business--construction/regulatory--licensing-services/violation-enforcement/notices-of-violations-and-civil.html


Prohibited Processes to Drain List

The following Laboratory Processes were submitted for discharge consideration and were determined NOT suitable

for discharge. Unused chemicals no longer needed must be collected and disposed of through the NIH chemical

waste services and not discharged down the sanitary sewer.

Table 5 Processes Prohibited from Discharge to the Drain Laboratory Process Chemical Constituents Comments

Blotting Techniques (Specify Western,

Southern Northern etc.)

•Phosphate buffered Saline (PBS) •Tween-20

•Preservative, Sodium Azide

Odyssey Blocking Buffer (PBS) contains Sodium Azide.

Cell Culture Expi293™ Expression Medium

The level of the RCRA metals is above the RCRA regulatory

level.

Cell Staining/Fixation

•PBS •Triton X-100

•Dyes

Wash buffer used to rinse off dyes/stains. Dyes/stains are

not authorized for discharge to sanitary sewer and require

collection for disposal through the NIH chemical waste

services. Column

Chromatography

•Urea •Guanidine Hydrochloride

•Sodium Chloride •Potassium phosphate

•Sodium phosphate •Tris-HCl •HEPES

•2-mercaptoethanol •DL-Dithiothreitol

•Calcium chloride dihydrate •Zinc chloride

Not approved for discharge to the sanitary sewer and is to be

collected by the Chemical Waste Service based on aquatic toxicity and the

malodorous public nuisance.

ELISA plate wash

•PBS •Tween 20 •Skim milk

•BSA w/Proclin 300

Wash buffer and blocking buffer solutions are disapprove

for disposal to the Sanitary Sewer due to the presence of

Proclin 300. Flow Cytometry Cell

Analyzer

•NovoFlow(ACEA Cat# 875B60) •ACEA NovoClean solution (1x) •ACEA NovoRinse solution (1x)

The BD FACS Rinse is NOT Approved for discharge to the

sanitary sewer due to the presence of Sodium Azide.

Gel Electrophoresis

TAE (Tris-Acetate-EDTA) •Polyacrylamide

•SDS •Dyes

Disapproved because of the options for use of hazardous

chemicals such as polyacrylamide, ethidium bromide, sodium dodecyl

sulfate and other toxic


ingredients including dyes such as Xylene cyanol and Bromophenol blue.

Transfer proteins from Bis-Tris gel

20x Bis-Tris Transfer Buffer: •Bis-Tris •Bicine •EDTA

•Chlorobutanol

Chlorbutanol and Bicine have toxic degradation byproducts and the chelating and related

properties of EDTA are of environmental concern. Please collect for disposal through the

NIH chemical waste services. Yeast cell culture, isolation of DNA

•Nicotine •Geneticin

•Wescodyne

Not approved for sanitary sewer disposal. Collect and

dispose Wescodyne disinfected culture waste as chemical

waste. This waste is corrosive and liquid waste (large

volumes) are not allowed in MPW boxes. The petri dishes and related lab ware can be disposed of in the MPW box.

Pharmacy Wastes

The NIH prohibits the direct disposal of waste pharmaceuticals down the toilet or drain (i.e., flushed or sewered).

Pharmacy wastes shall be collected and disposed of via the NIH chemical waste service.

The pharmaceuticals entering the environment, through flushing or other means, have a negative effect on aquatic

ecosystems including fish and animal populations. The important features and risks of the problem can be

summarized as follows:

(1) Pharmaceuticals are intrinsically bioactive compounds; therefore, they are potentially able to impact living

systems.

(2) There is a continuous and worldwide increase in their use and, thus, on their subsequent input into the

environment.

(3) Many of the hundreds of frequently prescribed pharmaceuticals are known for targeted effects and adverse off-

target side effects, a problem that can be exacerbated by interactive effects during therapy involving co-

administration.


EPA Specific Chemicals

The following compounds were identified by the EPA as prohibited in discharges to public waterways pursuant to

section 307(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended by the Clean Water Act. Waste containing

any of the compounds below:

1. Acenaphthene

2. Acrolein

3. Acrylonitrile

4. Benzene

5. Benzidine

6. Carbon tetrachloride

7. Chlorobenzene

8. 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene

9. Hexachlorobenzene

10. 1,2-dichloroethane

11. 1,1,1-trichloreothane

12. Hexachloroethane

13. 1,1-dichloroethane

14. 1,1,2-trichloroethane

15. 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane

16. Chloroethane

17. (Removed)

18. Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether

19. 2-chloroethyl vinyl ethers

20. 2-chloronaphthalene

21. 2,4,6-trichlorophenol

22. Parachlorometa cresol

23. Chloroform

24. 2-chlorophenol

25. 1,2-dichlorobenzene



28. 3,3-dichlorobenzidine

29. 1,1-dichloroethylene

30. 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene 31. 2,4-dichlorophenol

32. 1,2-dichloropropane 33. 1,3-dichloropropylene 34. 2,4-dimethylphenol

35. 2,4-dinitrotoluene

36. 2,6-dinitrotoluene

37. 1,2-diphenylhydrazine

38. Ethylbenzene

39. Fluoranthene

40. 4-chlorophenyl phenyl ether

41. 4-bromophenyl phenyl ether

42. Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether

43. Bis(2-chloroethoxy) methane

44. Methylene chloride

45. Methyl chloride

46. Methyl bromide

47. Bromoform

48. Dichlorobromomethane

49. (Removed)

50. (Removed)

51. Chlorodibromomethane

52. Hexachlorobutadiene

53. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

54. Isophorone

55. Naphthalene

56. Nitrobenzene

57. 2-nitrophenol

58. 4-nitrophenol

59. 2,4-dinitrophenol

60. 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol

61. N-nitrosodimethylamine

62. N-nitrosodiphenylamine

63. N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine

64. Pentachlorophenol

65. Phenol

66. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

67. Butyl benzyl phthalate

68. Di-N-Butyl Phthalate

69. Di-n-octyl phthalate

70. Diethyl Phthalate

71. Dimethyl phthalate

72. Benzo(a) anthracene

73. Benzo(a) pyrene

74. Benzo(b) fluoranthene

75. Benzo(k) fluoranthene

76. Chrysene

77. Acenaphthylene

78. Anthracene

79. Benzo(ghi) perylene

80. Fluorene

81. Phenanthrene

82. Dibenzo(,h) anthracene

83. Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene

84. Pyrene

85. Tetrachloroethylene

86. Toluene

87. Trichloroethylene


88. Vinyl chloride

89. Aldrin

90. Dieldrin

91. Chlordane

92. 4,4-DDT

93. 4,4-DDE

94. 4,4-DDD

95. Alpha-endosulfan

96. Beta-endosulfan

97. Endosulfan sulfate

98. Endrin

99. Endrin aldehyde

100. Heptachlor

101. Heptachlor epoxide

102. Alpha-BHC

103. Beta-BHC

104. Gamma-BHC

105. Delta-BHC

106. PCB-1242 (Arochlor 1242)

107. PCB-1254 (Arochlor 1254)

108. PCB-1221 (Arochlor 1221)

109. PCB-1232 (Arochlor 1232)

110. PCB-1248 (Arochlor 1248)

111. PCB-1260 (Arochlor 1260)

112. PCB-1016 (Arochlor 1016)

113. Toxaphene

114. Antimony

115. Arsenic

116. Asbestos

117. Beryllium

118. Cadmium

119. Chromium

120. Copper

121. Cyanide, Total

122. Lead

123. Mercury

124. Nickel

125. Selenium

126. Silver

127. Thallium

128. Zinc

129. 2,3,7,8-TCDD


Hazardous Waste

A solid waste is a hazardous waste if it is specifically listed as a known hazardous waste or meets the characteristics

of a hazardous waste. Listed wastes are wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes, specific

industries and can be generated from discarded commercial products. Characteristic wastes are wastes that

exhibit any one or more of the following characteristic properties: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity.9

TABLE 6 HAZARDOUS WASTE CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS AND LISTED HAZARDOUS WASTE

LINK TO DESCRIPTION

IGNITABLE WASTE §261.21 Characteristic of ignitability.

CORROSIVE WASTE §261.22 Characteristic of corrosivity.

TOXICITY WASTE §261.24 Toxicity characteristic.

REACTIVE WASTE §261.23 Characteristic of reactivity.

SPENT SOLVENT WASTE F-Listed Waste

MANFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE P-Listed & U-Listed Waste

Requests For Exceptions to the Discharge Policy

The DEP, in collaboration with the “Ad Hoc Working Group on No Chemical Waste to the Drain,” developed this

online application for reviewing, documenting, and potentially authorizing use of the sanitary sewer for specific

liquid waste disposal. This process gathers input on current laboratory practices from the research community and

seeks to determine appropriateness of using the sanitary sewer for disposal. DEP’s review and authorizations are

based on: NIH Policy, Local, State and Federal Regulations, principals of Environmental Stewardship & Prudent

Laboratory Practices.

Current NIH chemical waste management practices include collection of chemical waste through the chemical waste

service (NIH: Waste Management Services; NIEHS: Waste Management Services; RML -Waste Management

Services ). The DEP encourages prudent laboratory practices that minimize harm to human health and the

environment.

Application Process to Dispose of Specific Chemical Reagents to the sanitary sewer begins with the following:

9 https://www.epa.gov/hw/defining-hazardous-waste-listed-characteristic-and-mixed-radiological-wastes







http://orf.od.nih.gov/EnvironmentalProtection/WasteDisposal/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/orgchart/om/hsb/index.cfm

https://nems.nih.gov/NEMS-locations/Pages/NIAID_at_Rocky_Mountain_Laboratories_Montana.aspx

https://nems.nih.gov/NEMS-locations/Pages/NIAID_at_Rocky_Mountain_Laboratories_Montana.aspx

https://www.epa.gov/hw/defining-hazardous-waste-listed-characteristic-and-mixed-radiological-wastes


• Applicant submits online application,

https://spapps.od.nih.gov/sites/DEPAuthorizations/SitePages/Home.aspx , and receives email

acknowledgment of completion

Information required for every application:

• The contact information of the applicant, principal investigator or lab manager, and safety specialist.

• Name of process, chemical constituents, estimated volume, pH, and Equipment/Instruments

o Description of process - what is being done

o Safety Data Sheets of all constituents, directly or indirectly, involved with the process

o Manuals of equipment or supportive scientific documents

Construction, Maintenance & Renovation

Water Discharge Policy

All water discharged from NIH must meet discharge conditions of Local POTW and State water discharge

requirements. In general, only the water from the sanitary usage and wastewater from the individually permitted-

activities such as cage wash, power plant operations, and food preparation can be discharged to sanitary drains. All

other water discharging activities, unless identified in section b below, must be collected and disposed. Some

wastewater-generating activities (section a below) may be discharged to sanitary as Process Batch Discharge if

reviewed and pre-approved by NIH Division of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Discharges to Sanitary Sewer

Stormwater discharges are not permitted to the sanitary system. Any water from the following wastewater-

generating activities may be discharged to a sanitary drain. Requests must be pre-approved by both DEP and Local

POTW and meet discharge conditions for pH, temperature, discharge rate, hazardous materials content:

• Cleaning and treating of pipes, risers, and fixtures (new or old);

• Commissioning of water holding vessels and devices (water tank);

• Commissioning of pipes, risers, and fixtures;

• Emptying of fire suppressant lines;

• Floor installation, cleaning, and preparing;



Discharges to Storm Drains

Except for the following activities, no potable (tap) water is to be discharged to storm drains:

• Pavement wash waters where no detergents are used and no spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have occurred (unless all spilled material has been removed);

• Landscape watering, only if all pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer have been applied in accordance with the approved labeling;

• Uncontaminated condensate from air conditioners, coolers, and other compressors and from the outside storage of refrigerated gases or liquids;

• Irrigation drainage;

• Uncontaminated ground water or spring water;

• Foundation or footing drains groundwater where discharges are not altered;

• Uncontaminated infiltrated stormwater in vaults and conduits (usually telecommunication and electrical vaults)

national institutes of health drain discharge guide drain disposal guide.pdf · 2018-12-31 ·...

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