Secondary Containment Systems for Liquid Wastes

Any area in a TSDF where liquid wastes are being stored in containers must have a secondary containment system. For example, the secondary containment system could consist of a sloped concrete pad that drains leaked waste into a tank. The system must be designed to specific regulations, including the following:

• The area must have a base that is free of cracks and gaps.
• The area must be designed to ensure that the containers do not sit in moisture caused by leaks, spills, and precipitation, such as rain and snow.
• The area must be able to contain at least 10 percent of the volume of material in the containers.
• Spilled or leaked waste and accumulated precipitation must be removed from the collection area on a regular basis to prevent overflow.

Note that if the collected liquid is a hazardous waste, the facility needs to manage the waste in an appropriate manner, and not simply dump it somewhere.

If a facility closes, it must remove all hazardous waste and waste residue from the containment system. The facility must either remove or decontaminate any remaining contaminated containers, liners, bases, and soil.

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.