Through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Congress directed EPA to regulate all aspects of hazardous waste. As a result, EPA developed strict regulations for the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. States may implement stricter requirements than the Federal regulations as needed.
- Treatment and Disposal: Any process that changes the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a waste to minimize its threat to the environment.
- Storage: The temporary holding of waste before the waste is treated, disposed of, or stored somewhere else.
- Permitting, E-Permitting, Recordkeeping, and Reporting: Records of hazardous waste activities that owners and operators of waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) are required to keep and regularly submit to EPA.
- Requirements for TSDFs: Regulations specific to hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities cover topics such as:
- Air emissions
- Closure
- Corrective action/hazardous waste cleanup
- Financial assurance
- Ground water monitoring
- Land disposal restrictions
- Permits and permitting