The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) e-Manifest system is anticipated to officially launch in June 2018. The e-Manifest is a nationwide system for tracking hazardous waste shipments electronically and will establish the first national repository of manifest data. This is a much overdue modernization and consolidation of the current paper system. The anticipated benefits of the e-Manifest are many, including (1) a reduction of paperwork that is expected to save approximately $75 million annually; (2) nearly real-time shipping tracking capabilities; (3) higher quality data due to better legibility; (4) immediate notice of problems or discrepancies; (5) a unified data system for state and federal wastes; and (6) a single method for reporting manifest data to EPA and states.
Under this new system, EPA is required to collect manifests from any entity required to submit a manifest under federal or state law. Tens of thousands of generators, transporters, and treatment, storage and disposal facilities will be required to register for the e-Manifest system to submit manifests directly to EPA. EPA is authorized to collect reasonable fees to pay for the system. The final rule establishing the user fee methodology is expected later this month. The program will become effective on the same date in all states.
EPA is authorized to develop and implement the e-Manifest system under the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act, which was adopted in 2012. EPA issued a final rule in February 2014, implementing certain provisions of that Act. We will post an update on the user fee rule as soon as it is available.