Managing Hazardous Waste

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Hazardous Waste Manifest Information

A hazardous waste manifest must accompany most hazardous waste that is shipped off site. The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest is the shipping document that travels with hazardous waste from the point of generation, through transportation, to the final treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF). Each party in the chain of shipping, including the generator, signs and retains one of the manifest copies, creating a “cradle-to-grave” tracking of the hazardous waste. Identification (ID) numbers are needed by all parties on the manifest. Hazardous waste transporters in California must be registered with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).

Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System (e-Manifest)

On June 30, 2018, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) launched the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System (e-Manifest). The system will improve access to higher quality and more timely hazardous waste shipment data and save industry and states valuable time and resources.

e-Manifest Resources

Guidance

 e-Manifest System 

Fact Sheets

For Generators 

For Receiving Facilities 

For Transporters

For TSDFs

Register

Register as an Industry User in RCRAInfo

Webinars

Monthly Webinars

Adding Your California State ID Number Into RCRAInfo

DTSC has already added California State Identification (ID) numbers into the RCRAInfo System and continue to add newly issued ID numbers into the system.

Please follow Instructions A first to search for your State ID number in the system. If your State ID number is not found in the search, then follow Instructions B and DTSC will manually add your State ID number into the system.

1. Log into RCRAInfo. If you do not have an account, please go to myRCRAid Instructions for guidance on how to create an account.

Instructions A

2. Select “Add Existing Site”.

3. After clicking “Add Existing Site”, a search modal will be displayed to search for your site.

  • In the “Site ID” field, enter your complete ID number (include all letters and numbers).
  • Select “California” on the drop-down list of states.
  • Click “Search”. (Do not enter anything into the other fields.)

Successful Search. If your search was successful, your site will be displayed on the search results page. You will then proceed with requesting access to your site.

Unsuccessful Search. If your search was unsuccessful, confirm your ID number entry and try the search again. If your search is still unsuccessful, then your ID number has not yet been added into the system. Follow Instructions B below and DTSC will manually add your State ID number into the RCRAInfo system.

Instructions B

  1. Select “Request Site ID”. Select “California” on the drop-down list of states.
  2. Items 1-2 are auto populated. Complete Items 3-9.
  3. In Item 10. A.1. Type of Federal Regulated Waste Activity. Select N – Not a Generator.
  4. Complete Items 10. A.2.-11 & 17. Items 12-16, California does not participate in. These items will be unselected.
  5. In Item 18. Comments. Enter your CA State ID number and write “add for e-Manifest” (e.g., CAL000123456 add for e-Manifest).
  6. Click “Review” to confirm the information that you have entered. If you need to make any changes, click “Make Changes”, otherwise click “Submit”.

Any questions can be directed to e-manifest@dtsc.ca.gov.

 

Additional Resources

Manifest Regulations and Statutory Change History

Buying Manifest Forms

On and after June 30, 2018: The existing 6-copy uniform hazardous waste manifest has been replaced with a new 5-copy form. New manifest forms are sold by U.S. EPA approved registered printers listed in the Manifest Registry. U.S. EPA will accept Page 1 copies of the obsolete 6-copy forms for processing after June 30, 2018, however they strongly recommend that users transition to the 5-copy form as quickly as possible. If a user would like to continue to use the obsolete 6-copy form, they should undertake measures to minimize confusion. For example, one approach (although not a requirement) could include applying a pre-printed adhesive label to the top copy with the accurate copy distribution language, “designated facility to EPA’s e-Manifest system”.

Additional Resources 

Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest: Instructions, Sample Form, and Continuation Sheet

On October 5, 2012, U.S. EPA published regulations that significantly changed the manifest form and procedures. They mandated the national use of a new Uniform Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest (e-Manifest) System that was implemented on June 30, 2018.

Additional Resources

Manifest Submission to DTSC or U.S. EPA

Generators

Under California law, generators will still be required to send the generator copy of the manifest to DTSC by mail. The only exception is when a manifest starts and finishes as an electronic manifest in the e-Manifest System.

The generator shall within 30 days of each shipment of hazardous waste submit to DTSC a legible copy of each manifest used. Please send to:

DTSC Generator Manifests
Department of Toxic Substances Control
P.O. Box 400
Sacramento, CA  95812-0400

Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs)

The TSDF must submit a copy of all manifests to U.S. EPA within 30 days of the date of delivery, using one of the following options:

  1. Electronic manifest and electronic submission. If the TSDF is a registered user in the e-Manifest System, the manifest will be electronically submitted through the system.

  2. Paper manifest and electronic submission. The TSDF may submit through the e-Manifest System an image file of page 1 of the manifest and any continuation sheet or both a data file and image file corresponding to page 1 of the manifest and any continuation sheet.

  3. Paper manifest and paper submission. Mail the top copy (page 1) of any paper manifest and any paper continuation sheet to:

    EPA e-Manifest PPC
    14200 Park Meadow Drive Ste 200-S
    Chantilly, VA 20151

    Note: Mailing the paper manifest form (top copy/page 1) to the U.S. EPA will be phased out on June 30, 2021, so that only the digital methods of paper copy submission (options 1 and 2 above) will be available to receiving facilities.

Manifests generated on or before June 29, 2018 must be sent to DTSC to the following address:        

DTSC Facility Manifests
Department of Toxic Substances Control
P.O. Box 3000 
Sacramento, CA  95812-0400

Additional Resources

Manifest Report Repository

Manifest Exception Reports

Pursuant to 40 CFR 262.42, if a generator has not received a signed copy of the manifest from the TSDF within 35 days of the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter, the generator is required to contact the transporter and TSDF to determine the status of the waste shipment. If after contacting both the TSDF and transporter, the generator still has not received a signed copy of the manifest, the generator is then required to file an Exception Report with DTSC. A generator files an Exception Report within:

  • 45 days of the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter for generators >1000 kg of hazardous waste/month OR >1 kg of acute waste/month.
  • 60 days of the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter for generators >100 kg<1,000 kg of hazardous waste/month

The Exception Report must include the following:

  • A legible copy of the manifest for which the generator does not have confirmation of delivery;and
  • A cover letter signed by the generator or his/her authorized representative explaining the efforts taken to locate the hazardous waste and the results of those efforts.

Send Exception Reports to:

DTSC Report Repository
Generator Information Services Section
P.O. Box 806
Sacramento, CA 95812-0806

Additional Resources

Significant Discrepancy Reports

Pursuant to 40 CFR section 264.72(b), if a TSDF owner or operator discovers a significant discrepancy in quantity or type of waste on a manifest, the TSDF owner or operator must attempt to reconcile the discrepancy with the waste generator or transporter (e.g., with telephone conversations). If the discrepancy is not resolved within 15 days after receiving the waste, the TSDF owner or operator must immediately submit to DTSC, a letter describing the discrepancy and the attempts made to reconcile it, along with a copy of the manifest or shipping paper at issue.

Send Significant Discrepancy Reports to:

DTSC Report Repository
Generator Information Services Section
P.O. Box 806
Sacramento, CA 95812-0806

Additional Resources

Unmanifested Waste Reports

If a facility accepts for treatment, storage or disposal of any hazardous waste from an off-site source without an accompanying manifest or without an accompanying shipping paper as described in the California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 66263.20(e)(2), and if the waste is not excluded from the manifest requirement, then the owner or operator must prepare and submit a copy of the report to DTSC within 15 days after receiving the waste. The Unmanifested Waste Report must be submitted in the form of a letter, with such report designated as “Unmanifested Waste Report” and include the following information:

  1. The EPA identification number, name, and address of the facility;
  2. The date the facility received the waste;
  3. The EPA identification number, name, and address of the generator and the transporter, if available;
  4. A description and the quantity of each unmanifested hazardous waste and facility received;
  5. The method of treatment, storage or disposal for each hazardous waste;
  6. The certification signed by the owner or operator of the facility or his/her authorized representative; and
  7. A brief explanation of why the waste was unmanifested, if known.

Send Unmanifested Waste Reports to:

Unmanifested Waste Report
Generator Information Services Section
P.O. Box 806
Sacramento, CA 95812-0806

Additional Resources

Exception Reports for Exporters

Pursuant to and in lieu of the requirements of the California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 66262.42 and Health and Safety Code section 25160.(b)(3), a primary exporter shall file an Exception Report with DTSC for RCRA and non-RCRA hazardous waste if:

  1. The primary exporter has not received a copy of the manifest signed by the transporter stating the date and place of departure from the U.S. within 45 days from the date it was accepted by the initial transporter;
  2. Within 90 days from the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter, the primary exporter has not received written confirmation from the consignee that the hazardous waste was received;
  3. The waste was returned to the U.S.

For exporters by water to foreign countries, if the generator has not received a copy of the manifest signed by all transporters and the facility operator 60 days after the initial shipment, the generator shall contact the owner or operator of the designated facility to determine the status of the hazardous waste and to request that the owner or operator immediately provide a signed copy of the manifest to the generator.

The primary exporter shall submit the Exception Report to DTSC at:

DTSC Report Repository
Generator Information Services Section
P.O. Box 806
Sacramento, CA 95812-0806

Additional Resources

Manifest Correction Letters

A manifest correction letter must be sent to DTSC whenever a paper hazardous waste manifest submission contains incorrect or incomplete information. Pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code section 25160.5, DTSC is authorized to charge a $20 manifest correction fee when DTSC discovers the errors and requests a manifest correction letter. DTSC will not charge the fee if the company submits the manifest correction letter before being notified by DTSC of the error. For manifests returned by DTSC, the person to whom the manifest was returned must submit the $20 fee along with the corrected manifest within 30 days of receipt.

To submit a manifest correction letter, please provide the corrections on company letterhead, and include the following information:

  1. The manifest tracking number; either 8-digits (pre-September 5, 2006 shipments, DTSC 8022A) or the unique three-letter suffix preceded by nine numerals, which is pre-printed in Item 4 of the manifest (shipments on or after September 5, 2006, EPA 8700-22, new federal manifest form).
  2. The generator date (the date the generator signed the manifest);
  3. The generator EPA ID number used on the original manifest, even if it was incorrect;
  4. The incorrect or incomplete item number from the manifest;
  5. The corrected information; and
  6. The signature, title, mailing address, and phone number of the person submitting the correction.

Send manifest correction letters to:

DTSC Business Operations Unit
Attention: Manifest Corrections
P.O. Box 806
Sacramento, CA  95812-0806

Additional Resources

Common Manifest Errors

Below are common errors to avoid when completing manifest forms:

  • Incorrect, invalid or inactive generator ID number.
  • Incorrect, invalid or inactive transporter ID number.
  • Failure to verify ALL information on a pre-printed manifest at shipment.
  • Failure to delete entire pre-printed information for waste not shipped.
  • Incorrect or incomplete container, total quantity and/or unit weight information.
  • Incorrect or incomplete waste codes.
  • Failure to sign and/or date the manifest.
  • Incorrect or incomplete dates; past dates or future dates.
  • Transporter 1 signs in transporter 2 signature line.
  • Failure to submit a legible copy.
  • The generator fails to submit an Exception Report to DTSC, when a signed facility copy is not received by the generator within 45 days of the date the waste was accepted.

Additional Resources

DTSC Fact Sheets

Please note that some of the older fact sheets contain out-dated manifest information, which DTSC is correcting and updating. Please use them in conjunction with the other information on this web page.

Additional Resources

Search for Specific Manifests or Verify an ID Number

DTSC maintains the Hazardous Waste Tracking System that stores ID number information since the early 1980s and manifest data since 1993. Basic information is available to the public through 10 reports. The system collects both manifest copies from the generator and destination facility. Please note that in 2004 and 2005, many manifests did not match correctly, which resulted in duplicate manifests and tonnage counts. Therefore, totals in those years may be overstated. DTSC is working on correcting this data loading problem.

Additional Resources

Federal Requirement Information and Links

Below are links to helpful resources:

Additional Resources

Special Cases

View the two fact sheets provided below regarding consolidated manifesting:

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Under the new e-Manifest System, are TSDFs still required to send a paper copy of the manifest back to the generator?

Before the TSDFs can cease mailing paper copies to their generator customers, the TSDFs will need to determine that their generator customers in fact are registered with e-Manifest and have opted to monitor their accounts and image files for their manifest records.

Under the e-Manifest system, paper manifests are processed and image files of each paper manifest will be uploaded to the system or created by the system’s processing center, there will be an image file of each final manifest available for registered generators with e-Manifest accounts. Thus, registered generators can use the image file stored in their accounts to meet their requirement to retain a copy of the final manifest.

If generators do not create e-Manifest accounts for viewing manifests, the TSDFs will continue to provide paper copies of completed manifests to the generator per the recordkeeping requirements in 40 CFR part 262.

Q. Will “California only” ID numbers be accepted in the e-Manifest system or will thousands of businesses that want to use e-Manifest be required to obtain federal EPA ID numbers?

California only waste handlers are not required to obtain a federal EPA ID number. DTSC is working on adding California State Identification (ID) Numbers into the RCRAInfo System. DTSC has already uploaded State ID numbers into the system and will continue to work on adding newly issued numbers into the system. Please see “Adding Your California State ID Number Info RCRAInfo” (located on this same page) for more information. 

Q. Will sites utilizing the hybrid and paper options still be responsible for sending a “generator” copy of the manifest to DTSC?

With the launch of the federal e-Manifest System, under California law, generators will still be required to send the generator copy of the manifest to DTSC by mail. The only exception is when a manifest starts and finishes as an electronic manifest in the e-Manifest system.

Q. Will manifest data/images/reports still be available to regulators through HWTS for sites that utilize e-Manifest?

DTSC is currently working with the U.S. EPA to extract manifest data from the e-Manifest System into HWTS. DTSC is waiting for the technology to become available from the U.S. EPA. Regulators can request access to the e-Manifest System. Please go to the U.S. EPA’s “How to Register for e-Manifest” page and refer to the Attention: State Users section.

Q. Since electronic manifests do not come from a printer, what suffix (JJK, GBF, SKS) will be on the manifests? How will this be reflected when required to be recorded on consolidated manifest receipts?

The e-Manifest System auto generates the manifest number. This should not impact how the information is recorded on the consolidated manifest receipt.

Q. How will the e-Manifest System handle Manifest Discrepancy Reports?

E-manifest does not currently displace the existing discrepancy reporting. Please continue to send Discrepancy Reports to DTSC.

Hazardous Waste Links

Hazardous Waste Related Links