ML20238F155

Summary of 980429 Conference Call Between NRC & EPA Re Shipment of LLW from Pesses to Waste Control Specialist,Inc in Tx

ML20238F155
Person / Time
Issue date:	05/05/1998
From:	Wu S NRC
To:	Jim Hickey NRC
Shared Package
ML20238F060	List: IA-98-204, Summary of 980429 Conference Call Between NRC & EPA Re Shipment of LLW from Pesses to Waste Control Specialist,Inc in Tx ML20238F057 ML20238F098 ML20238F140 ML20238F155
References
FOIA-98-204 NUDOCS 9809030147
Download: ML20238F155 (18)

Text

- _ _ _ _

May 5,1902 NOTE TO: \\

John W. N. Hickey FROM:

Sherry C. Wu h y

SUMMARY

OF APRIL 29,1998 CONFERENCE CALL BETWEEN TH NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) AND PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

Counsel, and Region I participated in a conference ra the meeting was to discuss shipment of low-level waste e purpose of Specialist, Inc. (WCS) in Texas. Pesses is a Site Decom(LLW) from Pesses to Waste Contr license (Texas) for storage and processing, but not di ement State unlicensed hazardous waste disfcsal facility.

so operates an Natural Resource Conservation Commission and Tex a e of Texas Radiation Control on the previous day to discuss the State's position on ureau of of the waste from Pesses. The shipment for storage and processing is n and disposal NRC and Texas regulations. Shipments of waste need to comply with the m requirements in 10 CFR Part 20, Appendices F and G, and the LLW would n esting manifested as Class A. It is NRC staff's understanding, based on commun ye State of Texas regulation staff, the WCS hazardous waste disposal facilit e

would prohibit the disposal of LLW manifested as Class A under NRC req conditions material is less than 0.05 percent source material.

e EPA staff noted that the doses from exempt, naturally-occurring radioactive under NRC jurisdiction because the materialis cove a s at WCS NRC staff realizes that there is a difference in comparable health and sa vels with radioactive materials covered under the AEA and those that are not EPA staff understood that LLW from Pesses ca-be sent to En that this option would cost about ten times as much. EPA staff also noted th well, but noted Responsible Parties of the Pesses site will not ina happy with any delay a

e Princiole disposal. EPA staff also expressed concern that Texas' position as summa i n

not be final, and might change.

r zed by NRC, might NRC staff emphasized that its understanding of Texas' position was based on Natural Resource Conservation Commission and Richard a telephone Department of Health Bureau of Radiation Control, and obtain in writing the mey of Texas disposal of LLW at WCS.

a e position on

Attachment:

Participant List I

cc: Tim Johnson John Greeves Robert Fonner Chip Cameron Richard Bangart M@a&l ilW 1rf. lW'O H

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9809030147 980827 e

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FERRARO98-204 PDR u

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CONFERENCE CALL BETWEEN THE NUCLLIS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON APRll 29,1998 GENCY(EPA)

Name Oraanizatior!

John Greeves John Hickey NRC/NMSS/DWM Tim Johnson NRC/NMSS/DWM Sherry Wu NRC/NMSS/DWM Robert Fonner NRC/NMSS/DWM Marie Miller NRC/OGC Mark Roberts NRC/RI Dennis Metlock NRC/RI Karen Melbin EPA Region 3 EPA Region 3 Onsite Coordinato Jeff Benfield EPA Region 3 Counsel j

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L ATTACHME**~

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.e FACHJrvPROrar EsTE Comot SpraAusis LLC Waste Control Specialists LLC ("WCS") presents a 21st-century response i

to the need for:

• Cost-effective waste management and disposal options;

• Safety, compliance, and liability control; and

• Impact technologies for treatment, recycling, and source reduction.

I FEATURES

• 1,338-acre fuhy permitted TSD facility

- Treatment, storage, and landfdl disposal

- All 2,000-plus RCRA waste codes, TSCA (PCB) materials, and RCRA /TSCA mixed wastes

- Permitted TSD buffered within 16,073-acre company-owned site

• Supedor site characteristics and climate

• Permitted " condo" disposal capacity I

• Marimum assurance of safety and compliance

• The Texas Research Development and Commercialization Center l

- One-of-a-kind facility for development and implementation of innovative environmental technologies

- Unique R&D permit

- 14,735-acre company-owned site

- Major technology development partnerships in place e Unprecedented support from informed host community j

- Only commercial RCRA landfdl permit issued in more than 10 years

- Only broadly-permitted green field hazardous and toxic waste TSD facility in existence now or in the foreseeable future i

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GENERAL SrfE PLAN IIkWE Coxm' ot' Srsci.wsrsuc

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DEVELOPMENT, AND COmiERCIAT 17ATION CENTER S!'ECLiLIST5 LLC i

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l){.I PERwne CAPABRmES DE COXH!O1.

.5PECIA11ST51.LC FEATURES

• Fully permitted 1,338-acre TSD facility located within 16,073-acre

. con pany-owned tract

• Imdfill disposal (subject to LDR's) of all 2,000-plus RCRA waste codes, TSCA (PCB) materials, and RCRA /TSCA mixed wastes

- One 10,000,000-cubic-yard common bole

- Two 637,000-cubic-yard " condo" repositories

• Broad waste acceptance capabilities -

• On4ite waste treatment / stabilization facility

• Warehouse storage facilities for 5,000 drums of bazardous, toxic, or dioxin materials

• Storage for 150 bins of bazardous and toxic materials

• Drum-to-bulk and bulk-to-drum materials bandling and mpackaging capabilities

• On-site railcar unloading facility

• EPA-approved laboratory BENEFirS

• Cost and operating efficiencies from state-of-the-art design and construction under mature and stable regulations

• Broad range of permitted capabilities

• Accessible from major rail and highway corridors

• Limit relative exposure at other repositories

• Only RCRA /TSCA landfill permits issued in post LDR era 1

WS SUPERIOR SrrE CHARACTERISTICS AND CUMNTE UTE CO.VTROI.

SPEct.ausrs LLC l

FEATURES l'

• Outstanding geology--solid base of Triassic red bed clay

• First useable groundwater 800 feet below surface

• No surface water on 16,073-acre site o Minimal annual rainfall o Very high evaporation rates BENEFrrS o Long-term liability protection e Green field status o Post-LDR design / construction / operation I

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WS CONDO CAPABIIITY I

STE CQYHlOL SPECIALIST.5 Lt.C Each " condo" landfill permitted by WCS is a completely separate repository. Thus, " condo" ownership will provide a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to completely segregate waste by generator,

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type, or source.

FEATURES

• Two 637,000-cubic-yard separate, discrete repositories

• Independent liner and leachate collection systems o Permitted disposal (subject to LDR's) of all 2,000-plus RCRA waste codes, TSCA (PCB) materials, and RCRA /TSCA mixed waste

• Access to WCS' permitted storage, treatment, and stabilization facilities

• Accessibility from major transportation corridors

• On-site rail capabilities

• Access to WCS' full laboratory capabilities BENEFrrS e Control risk associated withjoint and severalliability

• Assure availability oflong-term disposal capacity at fixed cost

• Provide on-site waste management personnel,if desired a Facilitate acquisition of future needed permits due to technical correctness and community support of WCS' Andrews County project The advantages of a WCS condo are greatly enhanced by the facility's broad-based permits, superior site characteristics, and host c:mmunity support.

4

i)T!.S MAXBWM AsstmANCE OF SAFETY AND COMPUANCE TIbSTE bO C OE SMChtUSTS LU'

• Superior site geology and climate o Closure / post <losure funding mechanism in place o State-of the-art design, construction, and operation in mature, stable regulatory environment o Experienced, award

• inning management team

• Financially stable ownenhip-co-owner Valhi, Inc. (NYSE:VHI), a multinational holding company with 1995 menues in excess of $1.9 billion i

l 1

L___.______.___________________________________.

l' 77.S l

THETEXAS RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT TfirrE Comot i

AND COMMERCIALIZATION CENTER SECMUS7TS LLC WCS' Texas Research Development and Commercialization Center

("TRDCC") will support the efforts of technology development partners and clients and will facilitate the successful commerv i=lir= tion of these j

efforts on a most immediate basis.

PARTNERSEPS Technology development and commerei=13 = tion partnerships are now in place with major R&D institutions, including:

• Battelle MemorialInstitute;

• Texas A&M UniversitySystem; and

• Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (UT Austin, Immar, LSU and Florida State).

l FEATURES WCS' TRDCC will provide unique capabilities for technology development and commerci=1ir= tion, including:

• State-issued, facility-based R&D permit for bench, pilot,

and field 4cale testing of multiple technologies;

• Siting on 14,735 acres of outstanding geologylocated contiguous to a fully permitted TSDF;

• Controlled release capabilities allowing " test-to-fall" technology research and characterization;

• Enclosed test areas dedicated to the study of stationary processes which require special monitoring or venting; e Feedstock storage in quantities not limited by regulatory restrictions on treatability studies; and t

On<ite management and disposal of treatment residue.

i (see reverse side)

I

l l

t Waste Control Specialists Inc.

The Newest Hainaste Landfilis a Fresh Take on an Old Theme L

. by Jon Hanke

'To think of Waste Control Spe-A cialists Inc. as the latest initiate Waste,Qontrol Specialists is technologies for waste treatment, re-in the hazwaste landfill club is to building a hazardous waste landfill cycling, destruction and site reme-diation. 'Ihe first-of-its-kind permit l

miss the point.'

facilityin Texas and plans to open would set emission standards for the

- True, the company has already ex-for business later this year. In entire test site, eliminating the need cavated the first of three planned.

addition to a common landfill, the to obtain permits (and subsequent landfill units on its 16,000-acre piece of the west Texas, desert. But site will feature " condo" units for Permit modifications) for individual even a brief chat with company individual clients. With RCRA test projects. A recently announced founder and CEO Kenneth N.

and TSCA permits in hand, WCS jomt venture with Battelle Memorial Bigham leaves you with the clear Is pursuing permits to manage low-Institute and agreements with two impression that there's a lot more on level radioactive waste from university research organizations attest to the demand for such a facil-the drafting table than 11.3 million federal facilities. Other plans for ity.

cubic yards of permitted airspace.

the facility include a research WCS has also applied for a permit In addition to a conventional! Sub-center that will make it easier to to store and process low-level radio--

title C landfill, the WCS facility will cffer something that's largely un -

- test waste-related technologies and active and mixed wastes at the site, tested in the hazardous waste world:

take them to market. The und the company is now preparing

, dedicated disposal units. A hybrid research center will be managed its application for a permst to dis-between on site and commercial by ajoint venture between WCS Pose,of such wastes from federal landfills, the " condo" units are ac-and Battelle. In the landfill faciliues.

' tually self contained landfills. that business, WCS hopes to find a With financial support from one of will lie alongside the main landfill niche by offering value along with the largest corporations in Texas, the upstart company's staff of 15 has unit; WCS intends to match a single competitive prices.

client to each condo unit. The idea shown a knack for getting things r

done. By mid-June, analysis of the

~ is to give large generators freedom first landfill unit's liner test pad had from joint liability. concerns without ~

cadless site-selection and permitting been completed, construction mate-

. the hassles of permitting, building snarls.

rials for the facility's buildings had and maintaining their own landfills.

The site chosen by WCS certainly been delivered, and the company Another factor that sets the Pasa-played a role in the company's suc-was preparing to solicit bids for the Ldena, Texas-based company apart cessful bid for a Part B.

Situated landfill liners and a 6-mile rail spur can be summed up in two words; adjacent to the New Mexico border, to the site. We expect to be able to permitting success. WCS obtained the site has the perfect resum6 for a receive waste in this calendar year,"

its RCRA and TSCA permit appli-landfill location: It's remote, it's Bigham says.

cations in just 17 months. The fa-dry, and it sits atop more than 700 Bigham acknowledges that market cility's RCRA Part B permit will feet of nearly' impenetrable clay.

fundamentals for hazardous waste allow the company to accept any WCS didn't stop with RCRA and landfills are far from ideal (see

- RCRA waste code on the books.

TSCA permits, though. In May, the

" Hazardous Waste Landfills 1996 "

The approval also made WCS the company submitted an application to El Digest April 19%). But he also first landfill developer to receive a the Texas Natural Resources Con.

displays an entrepreneur's optimism final Part B in nearly a decade - a servation Commission for a permit that, by fulfilling unmet needs, his period during which several other that would allow the facility to be company can prosper in a highly landfill projects were toppled by used as a demonstration site for new competitive market.

El DIGEST Copyright

• June 1996 Photocopying or any other unauthorized ENVIRONMENTAL. lNFORhtATION. I Tu1 Minneapolis

"*-d*M*8"-----'*"'-*'

e_____-_-__-___________

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COMPANY PROFILE The Road to Development Waste Control Specialists Facility location Waste Control Specialists was founded by Bigham, a businessman from the Houston area, in 1989 with the primary purpose of developing e rw and operating a hazardous waste

• • • "*'"'C"'

landfill. The idea was prompted by e Anm.nia a Capacity Assurance Plan issued by Texas in the late 1980s that pre-dicted a shortage of landfill space in b

the region.

yo,, worth ee D*"'*

At the time, Bigham owned three gg other Texas-based businesses: a trucking firm, a TSD operation that offered fuel blending and other

'g-services, and a remediation com-pany. In 1991 Laidlaw Environ-mental Services made Bigham what g

f'" '

O he calls "an offer I couldn't refuse"

, 3, go.i.

for the three active businesses.

V However, Bigham's proposal for a hazardous waste landfill near Hous-ton didn't tickle Laidlaw's fancy.

"When I sold the businesses to Laidlaw, I was under a five-year, 500-mile no-competition agreement, so I had to abandon that project,"

Bigham says. " Hey didn't want it, nor did they want me to have it."

Figure 1 By the time the no-compete agreement expired this June, Bigham ects have b:en scrapped because the was already well on his way to permitting process stretched out for A Supportive Commun/ty opening a new landfill facility on the years, each time giving fresh mer.n-Perhaps most of all, Bigham says, opposite side of the Lone Star state ing to the term " money pit."

the speed with which the permits (see Figure 1).

In this light, the TNRCC's, quick were approved was due to the people few Pass Th/s Way unaround on the WCS permit ap-of nearby Andrews, Texas (pop.

plications is a minor miracle. WCS 14,000)- not one of whom raised i

One thing that makes the Waste submitted its Part B application in an official objection to the proposal Control Specialists project unique is March 1993. After a little more (see " Hazardous Waste Landfill i

its status as the first and only haz-than a year, the TNRCC issued a Siting Efforts," El Digest, May l

ardous waste landfill proposal to re-draft approval, and the final Part B 1994). The project was endorsed by j

ceive a RCRA Part B permit since permit was issued in August 1994.

local officials and governing units as l

the Highway 36 Land Development Approval from the EPA to accept well as the local Rotary chapter, the l

Co., now owned by Rollins Envi-TSCA regulated waste was received Lions Club and other organizations.

ronmental Services, passed the same in December 1994.

Arough two six-week public com-mile-marker in 1987.

In addition to the site's landfill-ment periods, no one contested the Anyone who's attempted to site a friendly characteristics, Bigham at-project.

hazardous waste landfill knows that tributes the permit applications' By all accounts,'the residents of the amount of time it takes to timely approval to the company's Andrews County believe that WCS achieve Part B approval, the haz-technical skill in preparing the can create jobs and stirnulate the waste equivalent of Nirvana, is one submittals and negcitiating changes economy of the region, which is still of the most worrisome variables for with state and federal officials.

weaning itself from big oil, would-be developers. Many proj-(Historically, Andrews County has l

Photocopying or army other unauthorized El DIGEST Copyright

• June 1996

)

use of this information is lileeal.

I'wvmovuswm Innpumnw T *n Maaaaak L-----------

Waste Control Specialists Facility Plan situated in a desert area on the Texas-New Mexico border.

He TENCE1.thE land is very flat and Ver,y dry, with lets than 11 inches of ram in an av-i crage year and well over 100 inches 1

of annual evaporation.

Mesquite

/

trees are the predominant form of N

K vegetation; grass is so sparse that it j

takes 75 acres ofland to support one a

cow and calf.

i Ranching ard oil drilling are the predominant business activities in l

Main Landfill Unit the area. He land now owned by WCS was once a ranch, and the company rents portions of it to a Condo fill Units rancher in New Mexico., he for-mer ranch foreman still hves a mile from the facility's gates and is its w

nearest neighbor. The closest town is Eunice, New Mexico (pop.

f O' -

3,

/

2,700), located six miles from the r ~- h T ek Unloading, site. The nearest surface water is

&s:

St8 rage, Processing more than 50 miles away.,te has ac 0

,and Staging Areas Although remete, the si Me y

cess to major highways and ra,li DM i

corridors. The nearby town of An-MJalo

' Area drews is a 30-minute drive from Odessa and Interstate 20.

1*

-l The site rests on the Dockum Formation, an extensive layer of i

Triassic red bed clay that ranges from 700 to 800 feet thick at the Figure 2 site. Beneath the Dockum clay lies the Santa Rosa Formation, a time-produced more crude oil than any 50-percent ownership of the com-stone layer that contains the nearest county in the nation; it's expected to

pany, active aquifer. Even at a depth of pump its three-billionth barrel Based in Dallas, Valhi is a diver-800 feet, the salinity of the Santa sometime this year.)

sified multinational corporation with Rosa water below the facility makes 1995 sales of more than $1.9 billion.

it unusable for humans, although it I'."#"###I 88CU"9 In addition to Waste Control Spe-is sometimes used to water cattle.

Another thing that helped the proj-cialists, the company currently owns A sand lens 4 to 5 feet thick lies cet was the financial backinithe de.

' all or part of five other companies:

about 160 feet below the surface.

veloper received. Brough a mutual NL Industries Inc. (chemicals), he "That's the firs't area we monitor,"

friend, Bigham was introduced to Amalgamated Sugar Co. (sugar),

explains Ken Jackson, vice president Harold Simmons CEO and principal Medite Corp. (building materials),

of operations for WCS. *lt doesn't owner of Valhi Inc., several years National Cabinet lock Co.

have any water in it, but it provides ago. Valhi had taken a look at the (hardware products) and Sybra Inc.

a good place to detect any release."

landfill proposal and Bigham's other (fast food).

businesses before the latter were The Common Hole The Site Plan sold to Laidlaw. After WCS ob-The main landfill unit, or tained its RCRA permit, Valhi Surrounded by nearly 15.000 acres

" common hole," is permitted for a agreed to buy into the landfill proj-of land owned by WCS, the 1,338-capacity of 10 million cubic yards.

ect, providing $25 million to spur acre permitted site has plenty of From the top of the berm, the land-the construction process in return for growing room. %e WCS facilityis fill's dimensions will be 4,000 feet l

El DIGEST Copyright

• June 1996 Photocopying or any other unauthorized ENvinontrxrAt,INFORA!ATION. LTnJMinneanolit

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COMPANY PROFILE

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1 by 1,100 feet; it will be more than ardous waste, it is also preparing its supports his point. the Energy De-70 sect deep at its deepest points.

application for a permit to dispose of partrnent has about 90 sites across Each of the common hole's 20 dis-low-level and mixed waste from fed-the country that still need remedia-crete cells will cover an area of ap-eral facilities. According to A!!en tion-and 19 of these are located in proximately 5 acres (see Figure 2).

Messenger, a consultant with AM Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

Environmental (the firm hired to as-But Dan Belger, the marketing Go/np Condo sist WCS with permit issues), WCS vice president for WCS, emphasizes in addidon to the common hole, is currently negotiating with the that the company intends to pursue the facility plan also calls for two Nuclear Regulatory Commission as waste from federal facilities na-dedicated disposal units, or condo well as the TNRCC to round out the tionwide, not just from Texas and units, and company officials say application before it is officially neighboring states. He also notes, j

there's enough room at the site to suhmitted. -

though, that the high concentration i

build 20 more. Because cach condo in March, the company applied for of former DOE sites in the desert tmit will belong to an individual a permit from the Texas Department Southwest is no accident. "For the customer, the chief benefit of this of Health to store and process low-same reasons they were there - the

' arrangement will be much lower level and mixed wastes at the site, geology, the sparse population, the potential for contingent liability Messenger says this permit would host communities - we're there for I

through complete segregation of the allow for sorting, compaction and disposal," he says. Concurrent with waste at disposal.

other fairly simple processing tech-the effort to secure permits for low-j The condo units are individually niques to facilitate disposal. "We level radwaste, WCS is negotiating constructed landfills with their own are in the process of evaluating at the

• highest levels" of the DOE to liners and monitoring systems. Each technologies that would be added to provide processing and disposal is permitted to hold 637,000 cubic the bcense subsequent to issue." he services, according to Belger.

yards of waste. The two condo units explains.

Terms of the pending There's no doubt that WCS is seri-have identical plan footprints and permit are currently under negotia-ous about courting the DOE. In its share a central dike.

Each will tion, and Messenger says he expects 1995 Form 10K filing with the Se-measure 700 by 600 feet.

a decision from the state by this fall, curities and Exchange Commission, Each condo unit will consist of six A facility currently under devel-Valhi notes the intense competition discrete cells, each with its own opment near El Paso would take and pricing pressure for RCRA-and teachate-detection and -collection commercial low-level waste from TSCA-regulated wastes.

systems. A phased construction ap.

' generators in Texas and its compact

" Consequently," the form states, proach will be used, with cells built partner states, Maine and Vermont

" Waste Control Speciatins believes as needed by the client.

(see " Low-Level Radioactive Waste its long-term future potr.ntial ia the 1996," El Digest, December 1995).

waste management ind.istry is sig-Other Capabi//t/e3 Under Texas law, no facility other nificantly dependent t'pon its abhy

]

Other features of the commercial than the one designated by the com-to,obtain permits for low level ay3 waste facility will include:

Pact,can take the compact's com-mixed low-level radioact ze a treatment / stabilization unit with mercial low-level waste; conse-wastes."

{

e steeI-lined quently, only materials from federal fout open-topped,,

facilitie A Place for New Technoloav posal.s would be eli ible for dis-mixmg tanks, each with a capac-in the WCS landfill. How-At first blush, the idea of combin-ity of 100 cubic y^ards; a railcar unloading facility'that ever, the WCS facihty could com*

ing a technology testing and com-e will feature separate areas for pliment the compact-designated merciaiization center with a landfill handling drumraed and bulk landfill by providmg storage and seems incongruous, if not a bit cyni-wastes; processing services.

cal. WCS's Belger is aware of the

.Even with this cavea cials see a potential w,t, WCS, offi-irony in a landfill company helping an analytical laboratory; and e

mdfall in the is customers find ways to avoid us-

. warehouse facilities capable of storing 5,000 drums and 150 bins I w-level and mixed waste markets, ing landfills.

But in the same j

of hazardous waste.

"'n cre's a defim,tive need in this breath, he also expresses his view I

country for a commercial place to that technology can reduce waste.

The low level Permit Effort dispose of federal facility low-level but it will never eliminate it. "Let's and mixed materials," Bigham says, face it - there's always going to be As the company read.ies itself to A quick look at the roster of DOE

'andfill material'" he sa s' begm tak,ng RCRA and TSCA har environmental management sites i

~

l Photocopying or any other unauthorized

-2 7-El DIGEST Copyright o June 1996 use of this information is illegal.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORM ATION. I TD./ Minneapolis

MfhN MQ gvEn4@mMrWM.NX'N eh6t@$'@e:C6nN

[ M Ji@ % 3 8b%j@ 7 ^ ' %

,'m on recycling, remediation and de-Wa t

structimnecimologies, yhg p6FA'CILJTEINFORMATIO e.d f

P t d+

fg g -# ##### ##'"I'

/%g$i g g ( M n N d d hih M M h h h N Nl N b g@.g y M

Earlier this year, an application c.jFacilit

- tion:7ANilewsp~ Texas'(approximately 30 miles northwest ; was filed with the TNRCC for a Re.

~

~

CF G S M FM W:1 #

search, Development & Demonstra.

M[acility-

+yf

@$h nQ #

tion permit, which is central to the m 50% ValhlIn@c;(50%)g geg g;b k

, ci[g

u enne WCS concept. "The RD&D permit.

hhMhhhd

• • • Te pursuing is a bit of a unique N

a

%fst u, t.N%

Permit StatusrRCRA Eissue 1994;*TSCA approvalj^7@g aMo Wwgg ammal,, Allen Messenger says. He CXplains that what promises to make.

Irinsd DehembEi1994iCERCIIA Approkal en'tici iated tipon~opemfigT the RD&D permit unique will be its

~~l

\\11RW.sidinge~And company plans'toippl applicability to any new technology hi6ft p@irMi@poni}irocessisis p6niit pinding;lopme 6fd(LLRVidis

" rmitind Resenich?Deve that's brought to the site. "Rather fi 0 @% e#? @w.E. M M [-permitting a facility,, he says.

& w r4

$ph%

than permitting projects, we're W Mh.$

kl @

m[%R m

CRA hazardouf waste l TSCAbaitsind Ednhazarddis PlannedTreatm'en isposalTe oglesblandfill disposal dfM This arrangement will allow a L

wide array of R&D activities to pro-

. Swastel stabilization' ~;MMl9' ceed without the constant need to

".. 9% :g. w;:1

.,, AS7..

acquire tecimology-specific hazard-APenrmittid Disposal Cap' cit'yf11.3 million cubic yards ous waste permits. It will also allow a

ywggs

';:1

. :1 F <

companies to change the design and

Permitted Storage; Capacity

5,000 druriis' and 150 b.

ms

[Tr' anspor'tation Idessifiucic; direci rail (planned).

l operation of test units without'the

^

need for permit modifications.

y a < n E,,, u i Facility SchingiDesert rangeland.

As proposed, the pernut would s

define allowable test and demon-m

' racilif [:reage[1,338 ac'rbbN stra n act es MMn a m of pa-a.

x

- o 4D y rameters to protect human health

Previous Industrial Uses'of th'e Site: None; 7, and safety. The criteria would ad-

,(.

y.

dress secondary containment, air Site Geology: Triassic red bed clay (to.700-800 feet); Timestone emissions control and surface and Annual Precipitation: 1.ess than'11 incl $es 8

p jd allo y gect o"dv ies 9 c Depth to Nearest Groundwater: 800 feet conducted with RCRA hazardous EPA Identification Number: TXD988088464 waste materials as long as these cri-teria were met. (Tests involving RCRA /TSCA Permit Number: HW-50358 I *~I'**I dI **II"*

• • 8 *0"Id require review and approval by the Texas Department of Health, and TSCA-waste tests would require

~

in a lot of ways, the company's bid barriers to trying out new ideas, similar approval from the federal to locate a test center adjacent to a WCS hopes to aid in the transfer of -

EPA.) The permit would be good hazardous waste treatment and dis-technology frorn research organiza.

only for research operations; no l

1 l-

.posal-facility makesi good sense, tions to the private sector, commercial waste treatment would For cne thing,~ such an arrangement if all the permits being sought are be allowed in the research ares..

would allow storage of sufficient approved, the facility will be able to The permit application was filed feedstock materials without having '

take many different types of hazard-with the TNRCC in May. Accord-l

. to worry about burdensome regula.

ous and low-level waste for demon-ing to WCS officials, the company tory restrictions on feasibility stud-stration projects.

According to has responded to all notices of defi-ies. On the other end of the test Bigham, the focus will be just as ciency and expects to receive the unit, residual materials could be dis-

' much on in-line process technologies permit by September, posed of easily and economically, if that minimize or climinate waste as necessary. By teanng down the The Battelle Jo/nt Venture g

El DIGEST Copyright

• June 1996 48 Photocopying or any other unauthorized i

Fmmnvwmi tunim umw - N8---

COMPANY PROFILE WCS recently announced the for-Other Candidates small know that landfilling is a high-mation of a joint venture with Bat-fixed-cost operation. The success of telle Memorial Institute, a leading in addition to Battelle, other com-technology development firm. The Panies and research organizations a landfill business depends on two things: good prices and gate re.

venture, called Greenhill Technolo-have expressed interest m the proj,-

ceipts.

gies, will manage a WCS sister ect. WCS has, executed memoranda The people at WCS seem to un-company called TecSafe LLC, of understandmg with both Texas which will be based on a 100-acre A&M and the Gulf Coast Hazardous derstand the challenge that faces tract adjacent to the permitted facil-

, Substance Research Center, a con-them, and they've obviously thought a lot about how to meet that chal-

ity, sortsum of umversities m Texas' lenge. " Price is important, but price in addition to offices and labora-Alabama and Florida.,According to tory areas, TecSafe will provide IVCS o_fficials, discussions with na*

sn't always the determining factor'"

some unique test facilities. Among tionTa laboratories within the DOE Belger says. " Wall Street has al-ready demonstrated how they feel them will be " controlled release cornplex are also takmg place. In tanks," containers designed to test the prwate sector, WCS is report-about unacceptable financial retums in-situ remediation technologies.

edly discussmg the project with a this industry. It's time somebody The tanks will be custom built to Fluor Daniel, TRW, Westinghouse stepped up and said they were going whatever site and specifications SEG, l.ockheed Martm and Molten to seli valuc instend of price."

For some, phrases like " sell needed.

The systems will be MetalTecimology.

value carry faint echoes of the equipped with control and leak-Research and testmg is important, Harvard Business School and other detection systems to allow for mass Bigham says, but even technologies places far from the hard-edged balance calculations.

Messenger that work don t always make it to world of hazardous waste. But Bel-market. What,s even more impor-ger is no newcomer to this business.

points out that the controlled release tanks will give researchers the tant is the ability to, commercialize Before joining WCS this year, he'd flexibility to test in-situ technology the technology after it s been dem-racked up more than 15 years in using actual contaminated soil and onstrated, he says.

""11:at s the sales and marketing management other authemic waste materials.

part that excites me personally.

positions with some of the best-Bigha explams that technical Also in the plans are enclosed test feasibil,m known names in the industry, includ-ity doesn't automatically ing Rollins, Browning-Ferris Indus-areas for the study of stationary processes that require special moni-translate into success; tecimologies tries and USPCI.

toring or venting. By moving ex-must als,o, meet a clear need, apply Belger says that one of the ways periments formerly conducted in the to definitive waste streams and be WCS intends to offer value is by field to a more controlled environ-economically viable.

They've got catering to customer needs.

ment, the company hopes to save re-to be market driven," Bigham says.

"Everybody talks about customer search dollars, reduce risk and pro-

,We,re not going to be m the busi-service, but few in the hazardous mote the regulatary and public ness of commercializing somethmg waste industry really do a good job acceptance of new technology.

Wat se world s not ready for."

at it " he says. "In the past, this in-The WCS agreement with Battelle in a crowded technology field, dustry rarely listened to the cus-BI Itam espouses a firm belief that S

gives the Greenhill joint venture the tomer. They chose to fulfill their

!he j., t venture's ability to test new needs, not the customers'."

om right of first refusal on intellectual i

property rights to Battelle's treat-ideas and quickly bring the good In contrast, he says, the WCS fa-j ment technologies associated with ones to market will set the firm cility was designed from the ground

{

recycling and destruction. Through apart up with insights from the client Greenhill, WCS and Batelle will

.A_Doroachina the Market community. "What we're creating l

identify technology ideas that de-

- the flexible permits, the condos, serve testing and search for waste-Even with its effort to fashion a the customer-service and sales team j

specific market opportunities, vital link in the technology transfer

-is a result oflistening to custom-

)

Bigham says.

chain, the success of Waste Control ers," he says. "What we plan to of-l "We're very proud of our relation-Specialists ultimately will depend on fer is fast, friendly, hassle-free l

ship with Battelle," Bigham says, its ability to sell its land disposal as-service."

I noting that the firm's reputation as a sets. And in the hazwaste landfill Another way WCS intends to sell tecimology leader should enhance business - where overcapacity has value is by convincing generators the venture's ability to bring new drawn competitors into suicidal their waste will be safer in Andrews technologies to the marketplace.

pricing games - operators big and County than anywhere else. "The l

Photocopying or any other unauthorized El DIGEST Copyright

• June 1996

..r,wi....i.i.,..

c.. ---

s o-price to dispose is not the fmal price the concept of dedicated capacity,"

the WCS marketing team will con-

- a companyhas in the management of Belger says, adding that the ideal sist of eight to 10 salespeople based hazardous waste," Belger says. He condo client is one that annually in Texas and the surrounding states explains th.t waste-generating cor-generates more than 100,000 tons of and will pursue clients from across porations are often forced to set Subtitle C, Subtitle D and TSCA the country, aside huge sums of money or pay waste combined.

When the time finally comes to hefty premiunas on environmental 11-The final value WCS will offer, drum up some drums, Belger ac-ability insurance to minimize long-Belger says, is,the kind everyone knowledges that larger, more estab-term risk.

understands - the kind that shows lished companies, with their mature l When the conversation turns to up in the invoice. "We have a su-

- networks of TSD facilities, will have

. long-term liabilty,. WCS touts a perior facilty for the long-term man-a clear advantage. "They have a clear advantage. "No liquids have agement of hazardous waste, which geographic advantage over us -no ever been put in our landfill," says equates to lower costs down the quesuon about it,". he says. But he

' Paul Bigham,who serves as director road," he says. "And we will have -

also asserts that there are dozens of cf Pehaical resources for his the lowest operating cost of anybody independent TSD operators that brother's caminay, "We are strictly in country."

hesitate to go to the national-nasse a post-LDR landfill. With the pos-WCS officials say that some of the companies because they're afraid

- sible exception of Highway 36, biggest names in the business have they'll steal their clients. "There's a

- th:re's not an operating landfill in four layers of management between whole group of TSDFs the big com-the country that does not contain the CEO and the line salesperson-panies have been trying to put out of substantial amounts of material that and possibly more between the CEO business for years that will openly would not be allowed in a landfill; and the customer. But the middle-partner with Waste Control Special-today."

management spare tire that comes ists," Belger says, adding.that each Other risk-management-related with corporate middle age hasn't partnership arrangement would ef-l

. selling points include the facility's afflicted WCS. Similarly, WCS is fectively add to the WCS sales geology, hydrology and climate. "If not burdened with large debt like force.

you locate a facility in the right some of the bigger players; as a re-As the hazardous waste industry

[

place, you should never have prob-sult, the company won't be ham-continues to mature and consolidate, lems," Belger says. "In the oil-strung by debt-inflated operating clear leaders are emerging. With boom days,. there were nearly.

costs. "The market will give you available capacity concentrated into-20,000 wells drilled in Andrews what it feels you deserve," Bigham fewer hands, Bigham expresses an

~

i County. I believe we can sneak says. '"But to compete effectively, optimism that the price wars will confidently to our superior site ~aar-your operating costs have to be in-subside. "Now that we have pri-acteristics.

line."

mary players that own most of the "We've got to convince penerators

[ landfill] assets in this country, the what they're really buying when Conclus. ion they use our facility " he continues.

low pricing may be a short-term j

Bigham. Belger and others at Phenomenon," he says.

"I don't 1

"We're really managing their long-Waste Control Specialists have envision [the industry leaders]

l term risk ier them."

l The corporations that are most re-enough experience to know that the 1:ceping prices depressed for an ex-hazardous waste business is an often tended period of time."

ceptive to this argument are typi-bumpy ride. They also understand Whether prices firm up or con-cally-the ' ones with the tieepest the importance of having capable tinue to soften, Waste Control Spe-pockets, For large-scale generators, Belger says, the condo units offer a people on their team -and they say cialists,is preparing to go head-to-one-time chance to virtually climi-they know where to find them.

head with the big guys. "We can "The first thing we're going to do is and will compete very effectively in nate the nsk' associated with jomt-hire the best of the best," Belger the commercial hazardous waste and-severalliability. "We have sev.

- eral major companies mterested in says. *1 have grown up with a lot of marketplace." Bigham concludes. A these quality people." At the outset, El DIGEST Copyright

• June 1996

-3 0-Photocopying or any other unauthorized ENYmOutmAl,1Nt'OlutATION, LTpJMin neapolis me of this inrarmeiaa 8e 8tlead