Design standards for hazardous/toxic waste and material storage tanks, dikes and transfer stations

As a result of environmental concerns, action has been taken to develop and implement practical guidelines for solving a variety of problems encountered in preventing accidental spills and releases of hazardous and toxic pollutants at many Department of Energy (DOE) installations. Specific criteria in the area of design and construction of dikes, waste storage tanks, and transfer stations for handling hazardous materials and wastes are of immediate concern. The current environmental regulations (e.g., Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Water Act) have been reviewed for applicability to design and construction activities and the regulations and requirements were translated into specific engineering design guidelines. The guidelines developed as a result of this study are being put into practice at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. When fully implemented, these guidelines will aid in minimizing the risk associated with spills of hazardous chemicals, and will assist the DOE facility in meeting the intent of the State of Tennessee and federal regulatory requirements.