RCRA Cleanup

RCRA Cleanup Topics RCRA Cleanup Reforms Achieving Efficiencies in RCRA Corrective Action Financial Assurances RCRA Cleanup Regulations

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) an amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, was enacted in 1976 to address a problem of enormous magnitude–the huge volumes of municipal and industrial solid waste generated nationwide. The primary objectives of RCRA are to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.

To achieve these goals, RCRA established three distinct yet interrelated programs. The solid waste program, under Subtitle D:

• Encourages states to develop comprehensive plans to manage nonhazardous industrial solid waste and municipal solid waste,
• Sets criteria for municipal solid waste landfills (MSWLFs) and other solid waste disposal facilities, and
• Prohibits the open dumping of solid waste.

The hazardous waste program, under RCRA Subtitle C, establishes a system for controlling hazardous waste from the time it is generated until its ultimate disposal– in effect, from cradle to grave. Finally, the underground storage tank (UST) program, under RCRA Subtitle I, regulates underground tanks storing hazardous substances and petroleum products.

Under Subtitle C, RCRA requires responsible parties who seek a permit to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste to clean up environmental contaminants at their facilities regardless of the time of the release. The cleanup at treatment, storage or disposal (TSD) facilities is termed "RCRA corrective action". Corrective action at a TSD facility may be accomplished through the enforcement mechanisms found in RCRA or through voluntary agreements. These tools allow EPA to protect human health and the environment while allowing a facility to continue its operation. Included among these tools are the permitting authority found at RCRA Section 3004(u) as well as various enforcement authorities found at RCRA Section 3008(a) (Compliance Orders), RCRA Section 3008(h) (Interim Status Corrective Action Orders), RCRA Section 7003 (Imminent and Substantial Endangerment), and RCRA Section 3013 (Substantial Hazard).

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