Civil Enforcement

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) interacts with the other environmental statutes. The following demonstrates some of the relationships between RCRA and other major environmental laws.

Clean Air Act (CAA)

• RCRA hazardous waste combustion facilities are subject to Clean Air Act (CAA) permit requirements.
  
  
• Air emissions from RCRA incinerators and other treatment, storage, and/or disposal facilities (TSDFs) must comply with applicable Clean Air Act NAAGS and emissions limitations.
  
  
• Pollutants and sludge extracted from Clean Air Act air emissions control devices (e.g., scrubbers) are subject to RCRA hazardous waste regulations if they are hazardous.
  
  
• Hospital, infectious, and medical waste incinerators are subject to New Source Performance Standards and emissions guidelines under the Clean Air Act.

Clean Water Act (CWA)

• Sludge resulting from Clean Water Act (CWA) wastewater treatment and pretreatment are subject to RCRA hazardous waste regulations, if they are hazardous.
  
  
• Discharges from RCRA-permitted facilities must comply with the limitations set forth in Clean Water Act (CWA) NPDES permits.
  
  
• RCRA-regulated Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) may also be subject to Clean Water Act SPCC requirements.

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Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

• The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) requires certain RCRA TSDFs to submit annual reports to EPA detailing releases of chemicals to air, land, and water.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

• FIFRA limits the amount of toxic pesticides that are produced, and thereby reduces the amount of waste that needs to be managed as hazardous waste under RCRA.
  
  
• FIFRA requires the registration of pesticides and disinfectants used in medical waste treatment technologies.

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA)

• MPRSA prevents waste from a RCRA generator or TSDF from being deposited into the ocean, except in accordance with a separate MPRSA permit.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

• Operators at RCRA hazardous waste generators and TSDFs may need to comply with OSHA training and planning standards.
  
  
• RCRA hazardous waste operations and RCRA cleanup activities at generator facilities and TSDFs may need to comply with HAZWOPER (Health & Safety Training) requirements.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

• Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) may be adopted by the RCRA program as cleanup standards for corrective action.
  
  
• RCRA contains provisions parallel to the SDWA that prohibit the underground injection of hazardous wastes, unless such wastes have been treated to meet the respective land disposal restrictions (LDRs) treatment standards.

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

• TSCA controls the disposal of certain chemicals, such as PCBs, there by reducing the amount of waste that needs to be managed as hazardous under RCRA.
  
  
• TSCA controls the manufacture and use of certain chemical substances, also reducing the amount of waste that needs to be managed as hazardous under RCRA.
  

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