Explain RCRA and HSWA - Hazardous Waste Regulations

1. In 1976, Congress passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and directed EPA to establish hazardous waste regulations

2. In 1984, RCRA was amended into the Hazardous Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA).

3. HSWA along with RCRA is used to regulate the generation and disposal of hazardous waste

4. Did not address abandoned or closed waste disposal sites or spills

5. Cradle to Grave Concept

- EPA's hazardous waste management system

- Tracks hazardous waste from its generation point to its ultimate disposal point

- Requires generators to attach a itemized list describing the contents of hazardous waste and track hazardous waste shipments

- The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest is the key to cradle-to-grave waste management.

- Generators can track the movement of hazardous waste from the point of generation to the final treatment, storage, or disposal.

- Transporter- Critical Link between be the generator and ultimate off storage, site treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste.

- Follows regulations jointly developed by DOT and EPA

- Defined as any type of person engaged in the off-site transportation of hazardous waste with the United States

- Treatment, storage and disposal (TSDs) facilities are the last link in the cradle-to-grave system.  

- All TSDs handling hazardous waste must obtain an operating permit and abide by regulations. 

- The owners or operators of TSDs must minimize the release of hazardous waste into the environment.