Opinion ID: 700470
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: RCRA and Kentucky's Authorized Hazardous Waste Program.

Text: 16 RCRA is a comprehensive regulatory system designed to promote the safe handling of solid and hazardous wastes. See, Palumbo v. Waste Technologies Indus., 989 F.2d 156, 157 (4th Cir.1993). RCRA was amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, Pub.L. No. 98-616, 98 Stat. 3221 (HSWA)(current version at 42 U.S.C. Secs. 6901-6992 (1988)), which imposed stricter standards on the owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment facilities to provide better protection for the public and the environment. See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6924. Under RCRA, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has primary responsibility for implementing its directives; however, the states may enact their own hazardous waste regulatory program. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6926. If a state elects to enact its own program meeting minimum federal standards and applies for and receives approval from the EPA, then the state program operates in lieu of the federal program. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6926; see, Palumbo v. Waste Technologies Indus., 989 F.2d 156, 157-58 (4th Cir.1993). 17 Kentucky enacted its own hazardous waste disposal program, Ky.Rev.Stat.Ann. Secs. 224.01-010, et seq. (1991), and thereafter received authorization from the EPA to implement it on January 31, 1985. 50 Fed.Reg. 2550 (1985). Counsel to the Secretary indicated Kentucky is authorized to implement the RCRA standards through its own authorized program but has not as yet obtained authorization to enforce the stricter standards imposed by HSWA. HSWA amended RCRA in part by adding the November 8, 1989 deadline language the parties dispute here. See, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6925(c) (1988). 18 There is no dispute that under RCRA and under Kentucky's authorized program, a hazardous waste disposal facility must submit and receive approval from the Commonwealth of Kentucky of its Part A and Part B permit application to become fully licensed to operate. If an existing facility fulfills the necessary prerequisites and files its Part A permit application, it is allowed to continue to operate under certain conditions as if it had a permit with interim status authorization. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6925(e)(1), 401 Ky.Admin.Regs. 30:010-20. 19