A Satellite Accumulation Area is a designated area near a process or location that generates hazardous waste where wastes are stored until they are moved to a central Hazardous Waste Accumulation area. The Satellite Accumulation Area must be at or near the point of waste generation and it must be under the control of the operator of the process that is generating the waste.
Federal regulations allow generators (the lab) to store up to 55 gallons of hazardous waste or one quart of an acutely hazardous waste in the satellite accumulation area. There is no limit on the amount of time to accumulate the waste. However, once a container is considered full, the lab has 72 hours to have the container transferred to the institution's hazardous waste storage area. From there the waste is shipped to a licensed hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facility. Many states also have their own, sometimes more stringent, regulations. Continue on through this section if you would like to learn more about Satellite Accumulation Areas.