Chemical Engineering August 2021 - 47

Look for a partner with a national
infrastructure, fleet and staff that
can migrate to a region of impact,
rather than selecting a regional company
that might be experiencing the
same extreme weather challenges.
Nationwide companies also typically
have access to a secondary network
that is available to bring in supplies
and equipment as necessary to
other areas.
Additionally, facilities may often
choose to contract a backup emergency
response partner and require
that the backup vendor have specific
knowledge of the established emergency
contingency plan. That vendor
can then assist during extreme
weather events if the primary vendor
cannot respond quickly due to access
issues, distance from the disposal
facility, overwhelming demand
for services, and other factors.
If the primary waste-management
partner was not able to remove the
waste from the plant and dispose
of it properly in a timely manner, the
damaged plant could then turn to its
backup emergency response partner
for contingency intervention. The
backup partner is typically located in a
different area than the primary one -
thus, it may have access to alternative
routes and disposal locations.
Partners should also be supportive
in navigating the financial aspects of
a crisis. During Texas' winter storm,
for
instance,
not
only were there
power outages, but energy rates also
spiked afterwards. To avoid this, review
financial implications in contract
language with the selected partner,
and look for restrictions on excessive
charges and fees in the event of
an emergency.
Looking ahead
Despite the unforeseen circumstances
of 2020, preparedness efforts
have remained steady. More
people in the CPI are planning for
the unprecedented challenges that
will inevitably take place in the future.
Contingency plans are extremely
important
for
organizations, since
being unprepared can quickly cause
a company to become the local or
national news of the day. If a CPI
company is looked upon as a leader
in its arena for water, chemicals and
safety, and yet there's a sudden disaster
that causes a damaged water
supply, there is lasting brand damage
that can be done. Besides safety and
compliance, this should be a motivating
factor for preparedness.
Furthermore, chemical waste serwww.ekato.com
vices,
from routine waste pickups to
large-scale disaster response, must
be handled with the utmost professionalism
and attention to detail. In
addition to being expensive, any industrial
waste regulatory violation or
oversight - especially in the case of a
natural disaster - has the potential to
seriously impact employees, the public
and the environment.
In the aftermath of a disaster, waste
and environmental concerns are only
part of a larger, more complicated
picture. Every emergency situation
must be managed with a commitment
to safety and full compliance,
and this becomes even more important
when hazardous waste streams
are involved. When disaster strikes,
use a preparedness plan to follow all
applicable regulations from beginning
to end.
■
Edited by Mary Page Bailey
References
1. Sullivan, B. K. and Malik, N.S., 5 Million Americans
have Lost Power from Texas to North Dakota After
Devastating Winter Storm, Time, Feb. 15, 2021.
2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), www.osha.gov/
coronavirus.
3. United Nations, Natural disasters occurring three
times more often than 50 years ago: new FAO report,
March 18, 2021.
4. U.S. EPA, Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste.
5. Scheel, W., Practicing Year-Round Waste Compliance,
Chem. Eng., pp. 42-44, Jan. 2021.
6. U.S. EPA, Summary of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et. Seq., 1976.
7. U.S. EPA, Categories of Hazardous Waste Generators
8. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 261 - Identification
and Listing of Hazardous Waste.
9. U.S. EPA, Hazardous Waste Programs and U.S. State
Environmental Agencies.
Author
Wade Scheel is the Director of
Governmental Affairs for Clean
Earth
(Phone:
Website:
678-822-9963;
www.cleanearthinc.
com), one of the largest specialty
waste companies in the United
States providing remediation, disposal,
recycling
and beneficial
reuse solutions for contaminated
soil, dredged material and hazardous
and non-hazardous waste. Prior to his role at Clean
Earth, Scheel held environmental, health and safety
leadership roles at Stericycle and Veolia Environmental
Services. He has a B.S. in biochemistry from Iowa
State University.
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Chemical Engineering August 2021

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