The application provides a variety of methods by which manifests may be submitted to the EPA including:
The term "electronic" in this context indicates that the manifest will be submitted to the EPA electronically including electronic signatures provided by the sites listed on the manifest. The method may be initiated by any party on the manifest for any party on the manifest. Once complete, an electronic manifest requires no further processing by the EPA and thus is the most cost-effective manner in which to submit a manifest.
Per Title 40 CFR §262.24(c), in order to submit a manifest in this manner, ALL handlers on the manifest (generator, transporter(s), and designated facility) must have the ability to electronically sign the manifest. In order to electronically sign, all parties must have at least one registered user within the RCRAInfo Industry Application that is either a Site Manager or has the Certifier or Preparer permission for the e-Manifest module. The final manifest (i.e., manifests that will be invoiced for manifest fees), MUST be signed by a Site Manager or Certifier and must also have an approved Electronic Signature Agreement for the particular sites identified on the manifest. Electronic manifests may also be initiated by brokers, but brokers may not sign manifests.
When creating a manifest, the application will indicate if a selected site has the ability to electronically sign. If a site does not have the ability to electronically sign, you will need to select another method in which to submit your manifest to the EPA. In some cases a transporter may arrive at a site and be unable to find a user that can electronically sign for the generator. In this circumstance, any party on the manifest, including the transporter, can change the manifest from an electronic manifest to a hybrid manifest by clicking the "pencil" icon under the Manifest Type in the General section of the manifest.
DOT requires that a physical copy of the manifest accompany the shipment over the road. The physical copy of the manifest may be downloaded from the system and printed on standard 8.5"x11" office paper to satisfy this requirement.
Click here for additional information about how to create an electronic manifest.
The hybrid method is similar to the electronic method, except that the generator does not have the ability to electronically sign the manifest. This method was designed for generators that are not registered in e-Manifest or do not have an EPA Site Identification Number. For this method, the generator and initial transporter sign a printed copy of the manifest that is generated from the e-Manifest module. This manifest is printed on standard 8.5 x 11 office paper. The generator will keep a copy of the signed manifest and provide a copy to the initial transporter. The transporter(s) will keep the paper copy with the shipment until the waste has been delivered to the receiving facility. The initial transporter will also electronically sign the manifest, as will all parties thereafter, including any additional transporters and the designated facility. Like the electronic method, at this time the hybrid manifest can only be initiated by the generator or the designated facility.
In some cases, a transporter may arrive at a site and the generator prefers to electronically sign the manifest. In this circumstance, any party on the manifest can change the manifest from a hybrid manifest to an electronic manifest by clicking the "pencil" icon under the Manifest Type in the General section of the manifest.
Click here for additional information about how to create a hybrid manifest.
The paper + data method allows for the designated facility to submit the manifest to the EPA as a portable document format (PDF) image along with the data associated with the manifest. This method provides a significant cost savings to the designated facility since it requires minimal, if any, data entry by the EPA's Paper Processing Center. This method does not require any system interaction from the generator or transporters identified on the manifest. Click here for additional information about how to submit an paper + data manifest.
The paper only method is similar to the paper + data method in that it allows for the designated facility to submit a PDF image of the 5-copy paper manifest to the EPA. The designated facility will also provide minimal information about the manifest including the Manifest Tracking Number, information about their facility, and optionally, contact information. Similarly to the paper + data method, this method does not require any system interaction from the generator or transporters identified on the manifest. Once the manifest is signed by the designated facility, the EPA's Paper Processing Center will enter the data from the imaged manifest into the system. Click here for additional information about how to submit a paper only manifest.