Hazmat fines

[B Aceves]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

I was at Gainesville and was handed a package of information while sitting in the ridiculously slow moving line at the gate on Thursday AM. The company that has contracted with NHRA to manage our environmental compliance was essentially selling their services and products. The package included a NHRA release form which had to be signed and turned in to the trailer when you registered after tech (essentially indemnifying them from everything). The information in the package also included a copy of the relevant STATE (Florida) statute concerning hazardous materials and their disposal. My take on it was that at Gainesville it was primarily a state issue, not federal. There was also a statement from the NHRA on their policy toward environmental issues, which puts 100% of the responsibility on the "Participant". It also prohibits the use of any halogenated or chlorinated brake cleaners. The statement also requires that waste oil generated during the event must be disposed of through the licensed HazMat vendor at the track. The implication is that you are not supposed to take it with you.

The company representatives were friendly enough, but it was pretty obvious that they are also doing their best to profit from the situation. They take waste oil for a price, and the price is based on how contaminated the used oil is. If it is full of solvents, particularly chlorinated stuff, it costs the racer more to get rid of it. They charge for the test for contaminates and disposal of the oil . It cost $45 to set up an account which included two tests. It cost $35 for a drum of non-hazardous oil (or $0.75/gal) and went up to $425 for a badly contaminated drum (or $125 for 5 gal).

The included (and highlighted) Florida statute requires that any container with waste oil be clearly marked and in good condition. If it is not double-walled it must be stored on a secondary containment with 110% capacity. There is no mention of quantity so that would imply that if you drained 8 quarts of oil from your engine whatever container it is in would need a secondary containment with at least 8.8 quart volume. Wonder how many racers have that setup? Florida can bust you for not having the secondary containment and hit you with a misdemeanor with a $1000 fine and/or 6 months in the local rectal stretching facility.

Finally, I was parked across the road from the HazMat contractor, and I didn't see much activity over there, although there was plenty of product for sale and/or lease.

Ok that explains it all, Thanks Im off my soapbox now, BTW Thank you NHRA for giving me another reason to go Bracket Racing......what a joke