Draft EIS Appendix 32 

APPENDIX 32—HAZARD MANAGEMENT AND 

RESOURCE RESTORATION PROGRAM 

The Hazard Management and Resource Restoration Program (HMRRP) is an administrative program with 

emphasis on management of hazards on public lands to reduce risks to visitors and employees, restore

contaminated lands, and carry out emergency response actions. 

HMRRP OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the HMRRP are— 

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To identify and control imminent hazards or threats to human health and/or the environment from 

hazardous substance releases on public lands. 

To promote working partnerships with states, counties, communities, other Federal agencies, and 

the private sector to prevent pollution and minimize hazardous waste on public lands. 

To provide hazardous materials management training to BLM employees and educate public land 

users concerning laws, rules, and standards. 

To require potentially responsible parties to undertake response actions and to pay their fair share 

or face cost recovery. 

To encourage public collaboration in environmental decision making. 

To inventory, assess, and manage the cleanup of hazardous substance release sites on public lands

that present a potential risk to human health and/or the environment, and to promote healthy

ecosystems. 

To assure that solid and hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities that might 

affect public lands are properly located, designed and constructed, consistent with the law, and to 

prohibit Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) temporary storage facilities on public 

lands. 

To reduce hazardous waste produced by BLM activities and from authorized uses of public lands 

through waste minimization programs that include recycling; reuse; substitution; and other 

innovative, safe, and cost-effective methods of pollution prevention. 

To ensure that authorized activities on public lands comply with applicable Federal, state, and 

local laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and procedures. 

To assure appropriate review of authorized activities and application of effective management

controls to correct weaknesses. 

HMRRP MANDATES AND AUTHORITIES

The HMRRP operates under the following specific mandates and authorities: 

Executive Order 

13148–Greening of the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management (2000) 

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Federal Laws 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended 

(42 USC 9601 et seq.) 

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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 USC 6901 et seq.) 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 

Federal Facilities Compliance Act of 1992 

Oil Pollution Act of 1990 

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 USC 651 et seq.) 

Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended (33 USC 1251 et seq.) 

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 USC 1711-1712) 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1972 (42 USC 4321) 

Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended (42 USC 300 et. seq.)

Recreational and Public Purposes Act of 1926, as amended in 1988 (43 USC 869) 

Manual Guidance 

BLM Manual Section 1703—Hazardous Materials Management 

BLM Manual Handbook H-1703-1—CERCLA Response Actions Handbook 

BLM Manual Handbook H-2101-4—Preacquisition Environmental Site Assessments 

Regulations 

National Contingency Plan Regulations (40 CFR 300)

Natural Resource Damage Assessment Regulations (43 CFR) 

HMRRP RESPONSIBILITIES

HMRRP responsibilities are divided into the following categories. 

1. Hazardous Waste Management 

Hazardous waste management involves— 

Oversight of BLM-authorized activities that generate, use, transport, store, or dispose of 

hazardous waste. 

Response to and remediation of contamination from unauthorized activities. Response actions for

hazardous waste sites will be in accordance with the National Contingency Plan (40 CFR 300) 

and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. As 

appropriate, BLM will coordinate with local Emergency Planning committees, the State of

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Minimizing the generation or release of hazardous wastes and pollution on BLM-administered

lands and facilities. Hazardous wastes produced by BLM activities will be reduced by waste 

minimization programs that include recycling, “green” product substitution, reuse, and other 

methods of pollution prevention. BLM also encourages lessees and operators to practice waste 

minimization. 

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Under current BLM policy, no public land will be leased or permitted for storage, treatment, or disposal 

of hazardous waste, and public land will not be leased for sanitary landfills. However, land may be sold

or exchanged for these purposes under an appropriate land action. 

2. Hazard Management 

Hazardous management involves mitigating various physical and environmental hazards present on BLM 

lands. Illegal solid waste dumping continues to be a problem on BLM-administered lands. Once located,

these dumps are removed to reduce the attraction of addition dumping (which may include hazardous 

wastes) and minimize safety hazards. On abandoned mine sites, safety concerns include open adits, 

vertical shafts, abandoned equipment and structures, and explosives.

3. Emergency Response 

Emergency response includes responding to contaminant releases (hazardous materials and petroleum)

that pose imminent danger to human health and safety, or the environment. The Rawlins Field Office

maintains an Oil, Gas, and Hazardous Substances Spill Plan that outlines specific response guidance for 

contaminant releases. 

4. Liability and Risk Management 

Liability and risk management involves— 

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Limiting liabilities to the Government associated with hazardous material contamination on 

public lands. 

Evaluating the risks to human health and safety, and the environment associated with BLM 

programs that involve hazardous materials. 

BLM policy requires identifying responsible individuals liable for hazardous substance releases on public 

lands. After identification, BLM will ensure that the responsible individuals clean up the contamination 

or reimburse BLM for incurred cleanup costs.

5. Program Support 

Program support involves—

Reviewing other BLM program plans or actions to ensure environmental and regulatory 

compliance. One of the highest potential sources for contaminant releases in the RMPPA is 

oil/gas development and associated transportation-related activities (pipelines, tanker trucks,

service vehicles). Detailed management actions specific to hazardous materials usage are 

included as part of environmental analyses conducted for specific oil and gas field activities. In

addition, to prevent or minimize environmental damage, BLM attaches stipulations to permits. 

Oil/gas operations and associated transportation activities also must comply with various local, 

state, and Federal regulations designed to reduce the potential for contaminant release and 

providing responsibilities for cleanup activities. 

Providing specific technical and regulatory information on hazardous material issues. 

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• Conducting environmental site assessments in support of realty actions and land tenure 

adjustments as per BLM Manual H- 2101-4 (Preacquisition Environmental Site Assessments). 

Implementation of BLM activities and BLM-permitted activities is controlled through stipulations and 

monitoring so that actions comply with applicable Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies,

guidance, and procedures for hazardous materials generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, and 

disposal. Violations through accidental occurrences or noncompliance are possible, however the 

stipulations require mitigation of releases in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Although 

industrial operations are regulated to minimize potential spills, accidents cannot be eliminated. 

Monitoring, oversight, and review of authorized activities, coupled with effective management controls, 

reduce the severity of impacts from releases. The HMRRP will continue to respond to contaminant 

releases (hazardous materials and petroleum) that pose imminent danger to human health and safety or to

the environment. 

The HMRRP will manage and respond to foreseeable hazards on public lands in the same manner as 

existing management. The program will continue to emphasize protection of public health, safety, and 

the environment, and compliance with the related laws, regulations, and policies. 

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