new hazmat rules
 

Got to bradenton and if you changed your trans or motor oil, you had to take it with you when you left the track.no oil barrels. Got to gainesville and if you change oil you have to pay a hazmat team to remove it from the track. You are not allowed to remove any oil or filters from the track in your trailers unless you have the proper equipment.hazmat must be owned by who ?

Re: new hazmat rules
 

So what are you suppose to do with your used oil and filter? How much are they charging you to dispose of it ? Also are they providing you with instructions on how you have to transport it if you do leave the track?

Kent

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Kent - Go dump it on the 1320 and tell the EPA that one of the alcohol cars did it.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Kent, they gave us a folder as we came thur the gate with a complete price list.also they give you a form to fill out and it asks for your credit card #.you can rent a 5 gallon container for 15.00 and you return it and pay at the end.you cannot remove oil or filters from the track. Chuck had his car recert. And the guy that did it said you would see a big difference at the gators.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Does the $15 container rental fee include the oil disposal fee, or does the content of the 5 gal. can cost extra, and how much? Also, what is the cost of a oil filter disposal? And imagine what happens if your credit card # falls into the wrong hands....no good. Much thanks. WJ

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Just change the oil inside the trailer... if anyone askes the old oil and filter was what you changed at Bradenton and have not had a chance to dispose of yet...

I can see NHRA pre planning a ticket fee increase and Im sure they will blame it all on the new EPA rules that the teams have to absorb the expences of..

Re: new hazmat rules
 

what is going to keep people from putting the old oil back in the containers, get a trash bag, put the containers and old filter in it and just toss it in the trash?, i thought that is why they put oil barrels at races so this would not happen... boy they really make me want to pull the ol' sewage valve while leaving, showing my appreciation. oh yea, and if i'm going to pay for an oildown, i'm going all the way down the track maybe even both lanes, i want my hard earned money's worth. NHRA, thanks for your racer support!!!!

Re: new hazmat rules
 

It would be nice if NHRA would post the forms they are passing out at the track. This way you know what you are getting into.

I emailed the company on the bottom of the video to find out about the various approved containers we could use but I have not heard back from them yet.

Jason, LOL why didnt I think of that , your are absolutly right.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Kent,

This sounds like a job for the SRAC !! Hopefully you guys can map out a sensible course of action that accommodates everyone.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

I think that when the EPA gets involved there is NOT a sensible course of action.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

The Green Police were actually standing on top of trailers and using Binoculars to locate "infractions" at Gainesville this weekend.

This could very well be the beginning of a bunch of new fees and taxes for racers and race tracks.

There were a group of kids going from trailer to trailer asking for used parts and autographs.... give them your used oil filter and/or empty brake clean cans!

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Can anyone explain why I have to pay to dispose of my oil/filter at the track and I can't leave a race with it carefully stored in my trailer, but I can walk into almost any auto parts store and just toss it in there for free?

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Standing on top of trailers using binoculars to patrol the pits? I guess the next obvious question would be who's trailers were these people standing on top of? I could only imagine the response they would recieve if they asked most racers if they could use their trailer as a observation platform.

I guess we will really find out for sure where this is all going in Oct. when the Div. 2 LODRS makes it's way to Silver Dollar. With Gainesville being a NHRA owned facility and being in Alachua county, probably the most politicly liberal counties in Fla., I might guess this is the location for the extreme. Knowing what I do about politics in Alachua county I would say the only reason Gainesville Raceway is still standing after 42 years is solely for the revenue that the Gatornationals bring to Alachua county each year.

Shelly, do you think that maybe those kids going around asking for autographed parts could be a set-up by the Green Police? Maybe that is common around the alcohol pits, but I don't recall it being remotely common in the areas we usually are pitted in. That would be idea, a kid come back with a used oil filter, empty oil bottle or a empty brake clean can with someone's signature on it. It might be a "far-fetched" idea, but maybe not.

The more i read posts like this makes me kind of glad I chose to sit out this year. Hopefully after the 2010 ellections there will be a return of sanity and reasonable thinking in our country and our racing community.

{Disclaimer} I do not intend to or advocate pulling the plug on a oil pan and dumping oil onto the ground, but I do believe 99.9% of the racers in this country have the common courtesy and human decency to do the right thing on their own without government dictation.




Hey Dan Moore, you're #1. :D

RIP Mark Graham

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Joe,
the real Green Police.... in action. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. A year ago I would have thought it was a joke.
(I think they were on top their own trailer)

I don't want to get paranoid. The kids seemed like adorable drag racing fans that just wanted some keepsakes. They were carrying around a little box of spark plugs and a signed fly wheel when I talked to them.

And I agree, most of us are very careful caring people when it comes to keeping our pits and race tracks clean and hazmat free.

Why can't we take our oil and junk home and dispose of it properly there? Because then the jerks that sick the Green Police on us won't make any money with their fees and taxes. I can't wait to see what a fiasco the Gators are going to be.
We miss you Joe, but with 7 crashes at Bradenton and the terrifying incident with Bart yesterday..... I'm wishing I stayed home too.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Why is it that you can TRANSPORT IT INTO THE TRACK!?!? If you're not qualified to transport oil, you're not qualified, period. This is just a crock. Just like the oil down penalties.

Anyone want to bet that wheel tethers are next for us?!?!?

Re: new hazmat rules
 

As I have posted earlier I know a good deal about EPA rules and regulations as I did deal with the agencies for a number of years before retirement. I can tell you as long as you are not an incorporated business you can transport Hazardous Materials without permits or placards up to a point if it is your personal waste. An example:
Racing Gasoline is considered a Hazardous Material however, unless you transport more than 110 gallons and it is not business related (for personal use) you are not breaking any laws. (The 110 gallons relates to a weight limit in pounds in the law which I can not recall without going and looking it up but anything over the 110 gallons is over limit which requires a permit or placards or both on the transporting vehicle depending on where you are state wise and road wise)

Used Oil is not considered a Hazardous Waste unless tested and determined to be Hazardous Materials with contaminates to a level which would make it Hazardous. (usually this is metals suspended in the oil)
One drop of the chlorinated brake cleaner can make hundreds of gallons of used oil test as Hazardous Materials which I am sure has happened at the race tracks in the past which may have caused some the additional rules also.

Used Oil filters are handled differently in every state.
Some states require all used oil filters to be squeezed and then disposed of.
Others require them to be shredded then incinerated in an approved manner.
Still other states will allow you to dispose of them in a landfill.
In the case of NHRA it is all about the money along with complying with the laws.
There is a buck to be made along the way and NHRA wants their cut. That is what this is all about.
Just My 2 Cents

Re: new hazmat rules
 

To be fair wrt NHRA, some of the tracks I've been to have looked two inches short of a superfund site... We all should be careful and conscious about not dumping stuff on the ground, and cleaning up when we do, and the like. I know I am.

But I'm sure there are a boatload of a-holes who just dump stuff on the ground and say "whatever", who save stuff up at home and take it to the track to dump it in the can, and so on. These same guys also don't listen to notices, announcements, and reason -- they only seem to listen to rules and fines. Well, they got it...

Re: new hazmat rules
 

I agree....I don't see an issue with removing your oil and filter from the track with you in an approved container...Heck we all have oil drain pans and the used oil can go right back in the containers the new came out of. Maybe they should just send an official over if you want to change your oil and have them make sure when you are done that you did'nt just dump it.....impose a fine if you did'nt notify an official?..

Re: new hazmat rules
 

That is a pretty good idea except you left out one important detail, the fee you need to pay the official to supervise your oil change. I am convinced that is the bottom line reason for all of this weather it is the NHRA at the race track or the EPA on a nation wide level. Somewhere along the line, a single person or a group of people are lining their pockets from this whole deal.




Hey Dan Moore, you're #1. :D

RIP Mark Graham

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Does any other sanctioning body have these problems?

Re: new hazmat rules
 

I have a question that's been bothering me.
What if someone else dumps in your pit? What is to stop someone that doesn't like you from "framing" you for EPA infractions at a race?
I'm sure you'll all agree that 99% of the people we race with are wonderful, but then there's the 1% of psychos that will do anything to hurt someone they don't like or consider a threat.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

It would be nice if one of the NHRA guy's would put a post on this forum and explain our option's on this issue. I shure would like to know more about it.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

I emailed the company on the bottom of the NHRA video asking for a little clarification on the new procedures. Here is the email I received from them:

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Prince <rprince@sppetroleum.com>
To: Kent Hanley
Sent: Sun Feb 21 22:28:36 2010
Subject: RE: disposal of oil and oil filters

Kent,

We can provide all drums secondary containment and such at the track. In the past the track had provided these items free of charge. Unfortunately Florida DEP regs will not allow them to operate in the manner many racers have become accustomed. We have a booth across from the fuel island to assist you or provide any necessities you may need. If you have not entered the track, we will be at the gate as well in the morning beginning about 7 am.

Thank you,
Richard Prince


I then sent Richard a follow up email asking about pricing and procedure using a typical example if one of us were to change our oil and filter at the track with a couple oil soaked paper towels and a used brakeleen can. I have yet to hear from him. When I do I will post his response.

I think if NHRA would of told this up front this thread probably wouldn’t exist.

Kent

Re: new hazmat rules
 

If Forrest Lucas ever wanted to be a hero...here is his chance.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Ok why can't we take our old oil and filters home with us?

Re: new hazmat rules
 

At Bradenton you could... but I am hearing at Gainsville, you had to pay for the disposal of it there???? I did not go t Gainsville....

Kinda odd that the NHRA owned track makes you pay more fees?????

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Dear Sir/Madam,
I understand your firm will be the provider for hazardous materials disposal at the upcoming NHRA race at Gainesville, FL. Since your website is unavailable, I need to know what we, as racers, will need to be concerned with and the costs to us because this is some sort of new way of the sanctioning body "passing the buck" along to the racers!

First of all, I always used the designated containers that the track provided to dispose of our waste oil, however as the operator of a mechanical shop, I sometimes wondered if the barrels at most tracks (not all) were a safe and approved method of containing such waste! What do we need to have at our pit area (if anything) in order to bring our waste oil (if we even have any during the race) to you for disposal or to transport back to our own shop where we have approved storage for such waste? ie: I change my oil (7-8 qts.) and filter at track ! If I bring the oil and filter to you, what is the procedure and cost?

Any further specific advise will be appreciated!

Rich Price

STILL WAITING!!

Re: new hazmat rules
 

Lets just sit back and see what goes on @ Atl. and then the Gators.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

I've never been checked by the DOT or Green Police. How much do they look at and do they have to have reasonable cause? I got pulled over several years ago in Airzona, but they checked my trailer for illegals...go figure.

Re: new hazmat rules
 

It's just a big scare to remind us that we need to comply with all the local hazmat laws, G-ville they were all over the track checking and looking for infractions, they found none.
On that Saturday I stopped by the Hazmat shop and asked how much oil they collected and they told me -0- so far. If you need to service your car just take it with you .
The other big issue is Brake Clean with Chlorine. I haven't seen Chlorinated Brake Clean in Years myself. I carry a 5 gal. jug and just dump it at Auto Zone or some place like that.
Mark, How's the leg doing ? You still skipping work ? Tell Deb I said Hi. It was sunny and 70 down here in central Fl. today, I'm working on a tan.