EPA Greenlights 100 Hazardous Waste Piles in Oklahoma – No Leaks Promised!
Published Date: 2/26/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just gave Clean Harbors' Lone Mountain facility in Oklahoma the green light to temporarily store certain treated hazardous wastes in up to 100 special piles on-site while they check if the waste meets safety rules. This means Clean Harbors can hold onto these wastes safely before final disposal, starting March 30, 2026, with no extra costs announced. It’s a win for safe, smart waste management at this facility!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Facility Allowed 100 On‑Site Put Piles
EPA approved a no‑migration variance letting Clean Harbors' Lone Mountain facility in Waynoka, Oklahoma temporarily store treated hazardous wastes in up to a combined 100 "put piles" at any one time in Subtitle C Landfill Cell 15. This approval is effective March 30, 2026.
Detailed Liners, Cover, and Monitoring Requirements
Put piles must use a single‑piece polyethylene liner at least 20‑mil thick with at least 12 inches of liner visible around the pile, be covered with Posi‑Shell (minimum 3/8‑inch thickness) or temporary 20‑mil polyethylene sheeting during adverse weather, and be subject to daily inspections. Deficiencies must be remedied within one (1) week; if a migration is detected or cannot be fixed within one week, the facility must suspend receipt at the affected put pile and notify EPA Region 6 in writing within ten (10) days. If initial verification failure for treated put piles exceeds 5% in a calendar month, the facility must do a root cause analysis and adjust treatment.
Six‑Month (180‑Day) Storage Limit Per Put Pile
Each put pile may be staged for up to six (6) months (180 days) from the time the pile is first staged until final disposal in Landfill Cell 15. If staging beyond 180 days is necessary, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) may issue an extension if warranted.
Cap, Expansion Process, and Reporting Conditions
Clean Harbors must request EPA Region 6 approval before creating more than 100 put piles. Expansion of the variance to a future Cell 16 requires an addendum and meeting five conditions (compliance with the NMV, same engineered controls, 6‑month duration, same waste categories, and expanded monitoring). The facility must also submit a duplicate copy of the RCRA annual report to EPA Region 6.
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