Hazardous Materials

Objectives

Minimize the use of hazardous materials and eliminate known hazardous waste on BLM-administered lands.

Land Use Allocations

No allocations are made for hazardous material sites in the planning process.

Management Actions/Direction

Minimize the use of hazardous materials and eliminate known hazardous waste on BLM-administered lands.

Identify, investigate, and arrange for removal of hazardous substances on BLM-administered land in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Emergency response will be as specified in the District Hazardous Materials Contingency Plan. The response will include cleanup, proper notifications, criminal investigations, risk assessment, and other actions consistent with the Act and the nature of the emergency.

Store, treat, and dispose of hazardous materials and wastes in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and other appropriate regulations.

Use the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act to coordinate emergency planning with other federal, state, and local jurisdictions concerning hazardous materials, emergency notifications, and required reporting of hazardous materials inventories and activities.

Ensure acquisitions are unencumbered by the existence of hazardous materials and features such as underground storage tanks following appropriate state and federal regulations.

Until hazardous materials on BLM-administered land are removed, protect employees, the public—and where possible the environment—from exposure to these materials.

Provide information and education to the public regarding the dangers of exposure to hazardous materials and the need to dispose of hazardous materials properly.

Investigate illegal hazardous materials activity on public lands, determine responsible parties, pursue recovery costs, and—where appropriate—prosecution under the laws pertaining to such activity.