RCRA Cleanup Regulations

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

EPA has, in the past several years, promulgated several regulations including the Corrective Action Management Unit Rule (CAMU), the Closure-Post Closure Rule, and the Hazardous Waste Identification Rule (HWIR) Media Rule, designed to streamline and bring efficiency to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
corrective action process.

The Off-Site Management of CAMU Waste - Final Rule was signed by the Administrator
on December 21, 2001. The rule establishes standards governing:

• The types of wastes that may be managed in a CAMU;
• The design standards that apply to CAMUs;
• The treatment requirements for wastes placed in CAMUs;
• Information submission requirements for CAMU applications;
• Responses to releases from CAMUs; and,
• Public participation requirements for CAMU decisions.

RCRA regulations specify the requirements that must be met when closing hazardous
waste land disposal units ("units") by either "clean closing" them through removal or
decontamination of waste, or closing them by leaving the waste in place with
post-closure care. The Standards Applicable to Owners and Operators of Closed and
Closing Hazardous Waste Management Facilities: Post-Closure Permit Requirement
and Closure Process; Final Rule, October 22, 1998 amends RCRA's closure and
post-closure care to remove impediments to cleanup at hazardous waste facilities by
two methods:

1. Regulators may either issue a post-closure permit to an owner/operator or impose the
   same requirements in an enforceable document issued under an alternate non-permit
   authority.
2. EPA and authorized states may use RCRA, the Comprehensive Environmental
   Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or "Superfund") ,
   or state regulations to address these units.

EPA issued new RCRA requirements for hazardous remediation waste that is treated,
stored, or disposed of during cleanup actions. This rule, known as the Hazardous Waste
Identification Rule or HWIR-Media, streamlines the RCRA permit requirements for
cleanup activities through the use of remedial action plans (RAPs). It also eliminates the
requirement for facility-wide corrective action at sites that are only required to obtain a
permit because of the cleanup activities and discusses the use of a "staging pile" for
temporary cleanup waste storage. Visit EPA's Hazardous Waste Identification Rule
(HWIR) web page where you'll find information on:

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Supporting Analysis and Documentation
• Federal Register Notices
• Related Regulation

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