THIS MANUAL WAS DEVELOPED BY:

THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE/COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION,

AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DIVISION

401 M STREET, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

RCRA Orientation

Manual
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword ............................................................................................................................ v

Use of the Manual ............................................................................................................... vii

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. ES-1

Section I: Introduction to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.......................... I-1

Section II: Managing Solid Waste — RCRA Subtitle D ...................................................... II-1

Section III: Managing Hazardous Waste — RCRA Subtitle C ............................................. III-1

Overview ...................................................................................................................... III-1

Chapter 1: Hazardous Waste Identification.................................................................. III-5

Chapter 2: Hazardous Waste Recycling and Universal Wastes ..................................... III-33

Chapter 3: Regulations Governing Hazardous Waste Generators ................................. III-45

Chapter 4: Regulations Governing Hazardous Waste Transporters................................ III-55

Chapter 5: Regulations Governing Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities.............. III-59

Chapter 6: Land Disposal Restrictions.......................................................................... III-101

Chapter 7: Hazardous Waste Combustion ................................................................... III-113

Chapter 8: Permitting of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities............................ III-123

Chapter 9: Corrective Action to Clean Up Hazardous Waste Contamination ............... III-137

Chapter 10: Enforcement of Hazardous Waste Regulations............................................ III-145

Chapter 11: Authorizing States to Implement RCRA ..................................................... III-157
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Section IV: Managing Underground Storage Tanks — RCRA Subtitle I ............................... IV-1

Section V: Miscellaneous Statutory Provisions .................................................................. V-1

Overview ...................................................................................................................... V-1

Chapter 1: Federal Procurement Requirements ........................................................... V-3

Chapter 2: Medical Waste Regulations ........................................................................ V-9

Section VI: RCRA and Its Relationship to Other Environmental Statutes ............................ VI-1

Overview ...................................................................................................................... VI-1

Chapter 1: Legislative Framework for Addressing Hazardous Waste Problems .............. VI-3

Chapter 2: CERCLA — The Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program.................................. VI-11

Section VII: Public Involvement in RCRA............................................................................ VII-1

Appendix A: Hazardous Waste Manifest ............................................................................. A-1

Appendix B: Land Disposal Restrictions Notification Requirements ..................................... B-1

Appendix C: Underground Storage Tank Notification Form ................................................. C-1

Appendix D: Glossary ......................................................................................................... D-1

Appendix E: Acronyms and Abbreviations .......................................................................... E-1

Appendix F: OSW Organization Chart ............................................................................... F-1

Appendix G: Environmental Contacts .................................................................................. G-1

 TABLE OF CONTENTS RCRA Orientation Manual
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FOREWORD

This manual updates the 1990 RCRA

Orientation Manual, which has proven to be a

popular and valuable resource for anyone working

with EPA’s solid and hazardous waste

management program or underground storage

tank program. Since the manual’s publication in

1990, the RCRA program has evolved

dramatically. As a result of changes in the

dynamics of solid and hazardous waste

management, as well as changes in the regulatory

expectations and demands of government, public,

and private entities, the RCRA program has been

steadily modified through new regulations,

policies, Agency-wide initiatives, and

Congressional mandates. The manual’s revision

reflects the progress that has been made in the

program and documents the changes in RCRA.

At this time, the RCRA Subtitle C hazardous

waste regulatory framework is completely in

place, and almost all states are implementing large

portions of the program. EPA has achieved

significant progress in establishing provisions to

fully protect both ground water and air resources.

Under Subtitle D, the establishment of municipal

solid waste landfill criteria ensures adequate

protection of human health and the environment

from solid waste disposal practices. In addition,

the Agency has significantly expanded initiatives

aimed at reducing the amount of waste

generated, and in the event that this cannot be

achieved, making any resulting waste

management more efficient. Lastly, the Subtitle I

underground storage tank program is being fully

implemented, and tank owners and operators are

working towards upgrading their units to meet the

most current and environmentally protective

management standards.

As we move ahead in the continuing

implementation of RCRA, several priority

initiatives stand out. For example, EPA continues

to encourage waste minimization in order to

reduce the quantities of waste generated and the

volume of waste that needs to be handled by

practices such as land disposal and combustion.

Also, the RCRA program is advancing risk-based

regulation by evaluating new ways to regulate

wastes based on the risk that they might pose to

human health and the environment. Lastly, EPA is

increasing the incorporation of states, the

regulated community, and the public into the

regulatory process in order to further a protective

environmental strategy that is easy to implement,

provides feasible compliance options, and takes

into account the interests of citizens.

The continued success of the RCRA program

rests on the involvement of all stakeholders. This

manual provides a mechanism through which

affected parties can learn more about the program

and serves as an effective introduction to the

various facets and basic structure of the RCRA

program designed to regulate solid and hazardous

waste.

This manual was developed by the Office of

Solid Waste, Communications, Information, and

Resources Management Division. Special thanks

to the many individuals at EPA Headquarters who

reviewed the drafts and provided comments.
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USE OF THE MANUAL

This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and

has been approved for publication. Mention of trade names, products, or services does

not convey, and should not be interpreted as conveying, official EPA approval,

endorsement, or recommendation.

This manual serves as an effective introduction to the various facets and basic structure

of the RCRA program designed to regulate solid waste, hazardous waste, and underground

storage tanks. In order to achieve this goal, the RCRA Orientation Manual is designed for

EPA and state staff, members of the regulated community, and the general public who wish

to better understand RCRA. While this manual constitutes a review of the RCRA program,

it is not a substitute for RCRA or its implementing regulations, nor is it a regulation itself.

Thus, it cannot impose legally binding requirements on EPA, states, or the regulated

community. In addition, the manual is not intended to modify or affect in any way existing

statutory or regulatory requirements or Agency policies; it is simply intended to briefly

summarize those requirements and policies. If there is any unintended variation between

any statements in this manual and existing requirements or policy statements, the

requirements or policy statements are controlling.

Further information is available over the Internet on the Office of Solid Waste and

Emergency Response’s Homepage at: http://www.epa.gov/oswer. For more detailed

information about hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste, please see the Office of Solid

Waste’s Homepage at: http://www.epa.gov/osw. Regulatory information and documents

are also available from the RCRA, Superfund & EPCRA Hotline at either (703) 412-9810 in

the Washington DC area, or toll-free, (800) 424-9346 elsewhere. TDD users should call

(800) 553-7673. The Hotline is accessible over the Internet at http://www/epa.gov/

epaoswer/hotline.