Manifest
Here is a site with an overview that has a nice diagram of the paperwork associated
with manifesting on page 6. Spend some time looking at page 6 of: Manifest.
If you have identified the chemical or waste correctly in the DOT's Hazardous
Material Table, most of the manifest can be filled in. Some notes:
Both the generator of HW (or "shipper") and the transporter (or "carrier") must have EPA identification numbers. These must be on the manifest. The standard form of manifest must be used. If the shipment goes through countries that require a different form of manifest, both forms must be used.
When the shipment gets to the TSDF, they will sign the completed manifest and send a copy back to the generator. But not always. Perhaps there were several intermediate transporters and paperwork got lost. If the signed manifest does not come back, the generator does not know if the waste is in the TSDF or dumped in a vacant lot somewhere.
Some wastes, PCBs, Asbestos, and some others have special requirements that must be noted.
The Reportable Quantity of all materials must be determined. This is the amount of material that, if spilled, must be reported to the national response center. That's in 49 CFR 172 Table 1.
The generator of HW remains responsible for the HW FOREVER. That is forever, secula seculorum, ad infinitum. If the transporter has an accident, the generator is responsible. If the TSDF makes a blunder and releases it, the generator is responsible. Now people who are in this business have insurance and contracts and so on, so after a generator pays for cleanup of an accident, they may get their money back from the transporter or their insurance, fine, but the responsibility for the cleanup remains with the generator.