(a)  For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1)  “Laboratory” means a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are handled or used in a manner that meets all of the following criteria:

(A)  Chemical reactions, transfers, and handling are carried out using containers that are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person.

(B)  Protective laboratory practices and equipment are available and in common use to minimize the potential for laboratory worker exposure to hazardous chemicals.

(C)  The chemical procedures conducted in the laboratory meet all of the following criteria:

(i)  The chemical procedures are conducted for purposes of education, research, chemical analysis, clinical testing, or product development, testing, or quality control.

(ii)  The chemical procedures are not part of the actual commercial production of chemicals or other products, and are not part of production development activities, unless the activities are conducted on the scale of a research laboratory.

(iii)  The chemical procedures are not part of the treatment of hazardous waste, other than the treatment of laboratory hazardous waste pursuant to subdivision (c).

(2)  “Laboratory accumulation area” means the area where laboratory hazardous wastes are accumulated pursuant to subdivision (b). The laboratory accumulation area may be located in the room in which the accumulated laboratory hazardous wastes are generated or in another onsite location.

(3)  “Laboratory hazardous waste” means hazardous waste generated in a laboratory by chemical procedures meeting the criteria specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1).

(b)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 25123.3, and except as otherwise required by the federal act, up to 55 gallons of laboratory hazardous waste, or one quart of laboratory hazardous waste that is acutely hazardous waste, may be accumulated onsite in a laboratory accumulation area that is located as close as is practical to the location where the laboratory hazardous waste is generated, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1)  The laboratory accumulation area is managed under the control of one or more designated personnel who have received training commensurate with their responsibilities and authority for managing laboratory hazardous wastes, and unsupervised access to the laboratory accumulation area is limited to personnel who have received training commensurate with their responsibilities and authority for managing laboratory hazardous wastes.

(2)  The laboratory hazardous wastes are managed so as to ensure that incompatible laboratory hazardous wastes are not mixed, and are otherwise prevented from coming in contact with each other. However, incompatible laboratory hazardous wastes may be mixed together during treatment meeting the requirements of subdivision (c), if one laboratory hazardous waste is being used to treat another laboratory hazardous waste pursuant to procedures identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).

(3)  The amount of laboratory hazardous wastes accumulated in the laboratory accumulation area is appropriate for the space limitations and the need to safely manage the containers and separate incompatible laboratory hazardous wastes.

(4)  All of the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 25123.3 are met, except for the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 25123.3.

(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as otherwise required by the federal act, a hazardous waste facilities permit or other grant of authorization from the department is not required for treatment of laboratory hazardous waste generated onsite, if all of the following requirements are met:

(1)  The laboratory hazardous waste is treated in containers using recommended procedures and quantities for treatment of laboratory wastes published by the National Research Council or procedures for treatment of laboratory wastes published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

(2)  The laboratory hazardous waste is treated at a location that is as close as is practical to the location where the laboratory hazardous waste is generated, and the treatment is conducted within 10 calendar days after the date the laboratory hazardous waste is generated.

(3)  The amount of laboratory hazardous waste treated in a single batch does not exceed the quantity limitation specified in subparagraph (A) or (B), whichever is the smaller quantity:

(A)  Five gallons or 18 kilograms, whichever is greater.

(B)  (i)  Except as otherwise provided in clause (ii), the quantity limit recommended in the procedures published by the National Research Council or in other peer-reviewed scientific journals for the treatment procedure being used.

(ii)  Except as otherwise specified in subparagraph (A), the amount of laboratory hazardous waste treated in a single batch may exceed the quantity limit specified in clause (i) if a qualified chemist has demonstrated that the larger quantity can be safely treated, and documentation of the demonstration is maintained onsite. The documentation shall be made available for inspection upon request by a representative of the department or the CUPA, or if there is no CUPA, the agency authorized pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3.

(4)  The laboratory hazardous waste treated is from a single procedure, or set of procedures that are part of the same laboratory process.

(5)  The person performing the treatment has knowledge of the laboratory hazardous waste being treated, including knowledge of the procedure that generated the laboratory hazardous waste, and has received hazardous waste training, including how to conduct the treatment, manage treatment residuals, and respond effectively to emergency situations.

(6)  Training records for all persons performing treatment of laboratory hazardous wastes pursuant to this subdivision are maintained for a minimum of three years.

(7)  The laboratory hazardous waste is managed in accordance with applicable requirements for generators accumulating laboratory hazardous waste under this chapter and the regulations adopted by the department, and all treatment residuals and effluents are managed in accordance with applicable federal, state and local requirements.

(8)  All records maintained by the laboratory pertaining to treatment conducted pursuant to this subdivision are made available for inspection upon request by a representative of the department or the CUPA, or if there is no CUPA, the agency authorized pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3.

(d)  For laboratory hazardous wastes that contain radioactive material, the requirements of this section apply in addition to, but do not supercede, applicable federal and state requirements governing the management of radioactive materials.

(e)  The department may adopt regulations that specify additional requirements for accumulating laboratory hazardous wastes pursuant to subdivision (b) or treating laboratory hazardous wastes pursuant to subdivision (c), if the department determines these additional requirements are necessary for protection of public health and the environment.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 506, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1999.)