Opinion ID: 514191
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Used Oil with the Characteristics of Hazardous Waste

Text: 56 As explained above at 280, the EPA's less stringent used oil regulations apply to used oil contaminated solely through ordinary use, even though it exhibits the characteristics of hazardous waste. Petitioner argues that this violates 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6924(q) (Supp. III 1985), which it interprets as requiring the EPA to treat all fuel that exhibits the characteristics of a hazardous waste under the hazardous waste fuel regulations. 57 The statute requires the EPA to promulgate such standards for hazardous waste fuel as may be necessary to protect human health and the environment. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6924(q). But it grants considerable discretion to the Agency in formulating these standards: Such standards may include any of the requirements set forth in [Sec. 6924(a) ] as may be appropriate. Id. (emphasis added). (Section 6924(a) lists various requirements (e.g., record-keeping, monitoring, treatment practices) to be imposed by regulation by the EPA on hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.) 58 The Agency complied with its statutory obligation by promulgating standards for all used oil that exhibits the characteristics of hazardous waste and is burned as fuel: Hazardous used oil is regulated strictly, off-specification used oil is regulated less strictly, and specification used oil is regulated only slightly. This regulatory scheme reflects the EPA's expert judgment concerning the amount of regulation necessary to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of various types of used oil. The record amply supports this judgment, and petitioner does not seriously challenge the factual basis for the Agency's classifications. 59 The language of section 6924(q) permits the Agency to impose only such of the requirements of section 6924(a) as may be appropriate. The structure of the statute confirms the EPA's broad discretion to impose less stringent requirements on used oil fuel. The EPA is authorized by 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6935(a) to regulate recycled oil (including oil that is burned). Such regulations are not to discourage the recovery or recycling of used oil, consistent with the protection of human health and the environment. Id.; see also id. at Secs. 6935(c) & (d). These provisions contemplate EPA rules for regulated used oil fuel that may be less stringent than rules applicable to other hazardous wastes. 60 Petitioner further suggests that the regulations irrationally distinguish between used oil displaying hazardous characteristics based on how the oil obtained those characteristics. The Agency provided a reasoned basis for this distinction. When oil acquires the characteristics of hazardous waste through normal use, overly stringent regulations may discourage burning. This might encourage improper disposal of used oil, thereby increasing environmental harm while decreasing energy conservation. On the other hand, the EPA thought used oil that is deliberately mixed with hazardous waste should be regulated as stringently as other hazardous waste fuel. Less stringent regulation would encourage such mixing to avoid the hazardous waste fuel regulations, resulting in greater environmental danger. 61 In HWTC I, we reversed the EPA's decision not to list recycled oil as a hazardous waste. If the Agency decides that the technical criteria for listing are met, it will then be required to determine what standards to promulgate under 42 U.S.C. Secs. 6935(c) & (d), which will require the EPA to review the appropriateness of its rules concerning regulated used oil.