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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C: Managing Hazardous Waste from Cradle to Grave
Overview of the Hazardous Waste Program
RCRA Subtitle C establishes a federal program to manage hazardous wastes from cradle to grave to ensure that hazardous waste is handled in a manner that protects human health and the environment. Therefore, EPA has established regulations and procedures for the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste handlers. EPA also has established technical standards for the design and safe operation of treatment, storage and disposal facilities to minimize the release of hazardous waste into the environment. These regulations serve as the basis for developing and issuing permits.
Regulated waste handlers apply for a hazardous waste RCRA identification (ID) number by registering their activities and reporting their volumes either annually or biennially.
RCRA’s corrective action program is designed to investigate and guide the cleanup of any contaminated air, groundwater, surface water, or soil from hazardous waste management of spills or releases into the environment as a result of the past and present activities at RCRA-regulated facilities. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), referred to as Superfund is a related statute that deals with cleaning up inactive and abandoned hazardous waste sites.
The RCRA program may be run by either the EPA or State agency. RCRA encourages States to assume primary responsibility for the implementation of RCRA regulations, instead of EPA. To receive authorization, State requirements must be as strict, or stricter, than the federal requirements. Oregon, Washington and Idaho are authorized to administer parts of the RCRA program in their respective States. Alaska is not currently authorized for the RCRA Program.
The goals of EPA’s RCRA Enforcement Program are to ensure that RCRA rules and regulations are met, and to take necessary action to correct violations. The EPA and the authorized states achieve these goals by inspecting hazardous waste handlers, closely monitoring hazardous waste handler activities, taking legal action when handler is in noncompliance, and providing compliance incentives and assistance.
RCRA also regulates underground storage tanks under Subtitle I and medical wastes under Subtitle J. The Underground Injection Control Program implements portions of RCRA with respect to underground disposal of hazardous waste.
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What's New and Frequently Asked Questions
- 8/13/02 - EPA has proposed a rulemaking in the Federal Register for facilities in EPA's Performance Track program. In sum, the rulemaking if it becomes a final rule, (1) would allow P Track hazardous waste generators up to 180 days to accumulate waste (or up to 270 days if the generator has to transport the waste more than 200 miles away) without having to get a permit or be an interim status facility, (2) simplify reporting for facilities governed by MACT under the CAA, and (3) change some reporting requirements for POTWs which are in the P Track program. The notice also solicits comments on a possible pilot program to allow P Track facilities to consolidate reports under CAA, CWA, EPCRA and RCRA. EPA is holding a public hearing on this proposed rulemaking on Sept. 27th. Since its beginning, the P Track program has promised that it would explore some regulatory flexibility to participating facilities. This notice is an important step in giving flexibility to P Track participants. Attached below is the complete Federal Register notice (28 pages).
- 6/3/02 - Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) for businesses, associations, the public, and state and federal agencies. An EMS is a set of processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.
- 5/27/02 - EDOCKET - Access to EPA Docket system - The EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) is an electronic public docket and on-line comment system designed to expand access to documents in EPA’s major dockets. Dockets contain Federal Register notices, support documents, and public comments for regulations the Agency publishes and various non-regulatory activities. EDOCKET allows you to search, download and print the documents in a docket, as well as submit comments online.
- EPA's Window To My Environment (WME) - a powerful new web-based tool that provides a wide range of federal, state, and local information about environmental conditions and features in an area of your choice. This application is provided by U.S. EPA in partnership with federal, state and local government and other organizations.
- 3/16/01 US DOE Hanford Federal Facility RCRA Homepage by the Office of Waste and Chemicals Management
- 2/21/01 - EPA Press Release on the US Army Umatilla Chemical Depot
- 1/16/01 - Evanite Fiber Corporation - Corvallis, Oregon - Draft Post-Closure Permit and other information on the ODEQ Web Pages
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from EPA Headquarters
Background, Key Statutes, Regulations and Policies
- RCRA Statute
- RCRA Orientation Manual
- Solid Waste Program Overview
- RCRA Subpart CC: Air Emission Requirements for Large Quantity Generators
- Universal Waste Rule
- Hazardous Waste Identification
- Requirements for Hazardous Waste Generators and Transporters
- Waste Treatment Technologies
- Land Disposal Restrictions
Other Wastes
- Radioactive Wastes - WA Department of Ecology Nuclear Waste Program
- Hazardous Wastes in Fertilizers
- Medical Waste, Mining Waste, Oil and Gas
- Used Oil
- Used Batteries
- Management of Spent Aerosol Cans
- Management of Hazardous Waste Lamps
- King County, Washington Environmental Purchasing Bulletin #60: New Fluorescent Tube Recycling Rules
Risk and Health Information
- Risk Assessment
State Agencies and Contacts
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC)
- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ)
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ)
- Washingon Department of Ecology (Ecology)
Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) - Department of Hazardous Waste and Toxic Reduction
WA Department of Ecology Nuclear Waste Program
Other Useful Websites and Information
- EPA Region 9: Technology Web Sites - links to government, academic and industry Web pages dedicated to both hazardous waste site characterization and remediation technologies.
- WA Department of Ecology's Nuclear Waste Program
- Technology Innovations Office
- RCRA Hotline
- Solid Waste Program (Region 10) (HQs)
- Superfund (Region 10) (HQs)
- Underground Injection Control Project
- Underground Storage Tanks
- Catalog of Hazardous and Solid Waste Publications
- EPA's Window To My Environment (WME) - a powerful new web-based tool that provides a wide range of federal, state, and local information about environmental conditions and features in an area of your choice. This application is provided by U.S. EPA in partnership with federal, state and local government and other organizations.
Training Opportunities
- National Registry of Environmental Professionals - Environmental Training and Management Division courses
Unit: Office of Waste and Chemicals Management
Last Updated (mm/dd/yy): 08/11/2003
RCRA
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