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The containers can be stored onsite in loading <br />docks or designated storage areas, but in order <br />for an exempt transfer facility to remain eligible <br />for the reduced transfer facility requirements, the <br />wastes must remain in the original containers <br />and the containers may not be opened by the <br />exempt transfer facility. When wastes remain in <br />the containers that they were shipped in and <br />have not reached the final destination, the <br />wastes continue to be subject to DOT Hazard- <br />ous Materials Regulations. Once waste has ar- <br />rived at its destination or is handled on site the <br />wastes are no longer in transit nor subject to <br />DOT's regulations but are instead subject to <br />hazardous waste laws. 14 <br />The phrase "no additional handling,i15 means <br />"no mixing, pumping, altering of packaging or <br />handling, of wastes which may lead to a dis- <br />charge" can take place at an exempt transfer fa- <br />cility. The containers must remain intact and <br />cannot be opened at exempt transfer facilities. <br />A permit is required when a facility bulks, pack- <br />ages or containerizes hazardous wastes or han- <br />dles wastes in any manner other than <br />transferring a packaged or containerized waste <br />from one vehicle to another.16 <br />The term "dayi17 is defined in state regulations <br />however, the phrase "normal course of trans- <br />portation," is not. A day is defined as a calen- <br />dar day, except that when counting days, the <br />first partial day does not count. In addition, if the <br />last day falls on a State holiday, Saturday or <br />Sunday, these days do not count toward the 6 or <br />10 day limits. <br />Although, the phrase "normal course of transpor- <br />tation" is not specifically defined in state or fed- <br />eral laws or regulations, the law requires that <br />there are no unnecessary delays in the move- <br />ment of shipments.1' Further, U.S. EPA letters <br />and guidance documents interpret the phrase <br />"normal course of transportation," to mean the <br />progress of a waste from the point of origin to its <br />final destination. What constitutes "normal <br />course of transportation" depends on the par- <br />ticular facts of each case.19 U.S. EPA made a <br />determination that routing waste back to the <br />same location did not constitute normal course <br />of transportation .20 As such, moving waste be- <br />tween two points without moving the waste <br />closer to its final destination does not constitute <br />"normal course of transportation." <br />A transporter must comply with the provisions of <br />the Vehicle Code regarding hazardous wastes <br />and materials. Vehicles used for the transporta- <br />tion of hazardous materials cannot be left unat- <br />tended or parked overnight in a residential <br />district as defined in Vehicle Code section 515.21 <br />Further, transportation must be on interstate <br />highways that require the least overall transit <br />time, and avoid congested thoroughfares, places <br />where crowds are assembled, and residential <br />districts. Transporters that deviate from the re- <br />quirements cannot do so on the basis of operat- <br />ing convenience. <br />A transporter must also operate in compliance <br />with DOT requirements governing the transpor- <br />tation of hazardous materials. One of the re- <br />quirements is that in the course of transportation <br />a vehicle containing hazardous materials (i.e. <br />wastes) must be attended 22 by its driver and <br />cannot be parked within five feet of the traveled <br />portion of a public street or highway except brief <br />periods when necessary for operations and it is <br />impractical to park anywhere else. A vehicle is <br />considered parked when it is stopped for a pur- <br />pose unrelated to driving, (e.g., fueling eating, <br />loading and unloading). Parking at fueling facili- <br />ties to obtain fuel, oil, etc., or at a carriers termi- <br />nal are considered necessities of operation.23 A <br />transporter may designate a qualified represen- <br />tative to attend to the vehicle only if the repre- <br />sentative: <br />• Is aware of the nature of the hazardous <br />materials contained in the vehicle; <br />• Has been instructed on the procedures <br />that must be followed in an emergency <br />and is authorized to move the vehicle <br />and has the means and ability to do so <br />(49 CFR section 397.5). <br />14 Federal Register Vol. 68 No. 210, 10/30/03 <br />15 Cal. Code Regs., title 22, section 66263.18(b) <br />16 Health & Saf. Code section 25200.19 <br />17 Cal. Code Regs., title 22, section 66260.10 <br />18 49 CFR 177.800(d) <br />19 Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response <br />(OSWER) No. 9461.1990(02),10/30/90; OSWER No. <br />9461.1994(02) (8/17/94) & 45 FR86966, 12/31/80. <br />20 OSWER No. 9461.1990(01),6/7/90 <br />21 Vehicle Code section 31303. <br />22 A motor vehicle is attended when the person in <br />charge of the vehicle is on the vehicle, awake, and not <br />in the sleeper berth, or is within 100 feet of the vehicle <br />and has it within his/her unobstructed field of view (49 <br />CFR section 397.5(d)(1) ). <br />23 49 CFR section 397.7 <br />