55 slide Power Point Comprehensive review of the OSHA act regulations for regulations for employer and employee responsibilities and rights, records and documentation

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

(RCRA)

Purpose of RCRA

RCRA is a multi-faceted approach toward solving the problems with the 3-4 billion tons of discarded material generated each year It is also geared toward the problems resulting from the anticipated 8% annual increase in the volume of waste generated Primarily, RCRA is intended to protect human health and the environment by controlling such hazardous wastes

What the Act covers

Not only solid wastes, but also liquid and contained gaseous wastes, semi-solid wastes, and sludge are the subjects of this legislation However, most agricultural waste is reclaimed or put to new use and is not a part of the disposal problem

Returned to soil as fertilizers or soil conditioners

What the Act covers(cont’d)

Major objective of RCRA is to increase the reclamation and reuse practices

In summary, discarded materials are a direct result of the nations industrial production and the American lifestyle

Problems with the Disposal of Wastes

Most widespread method is landfill Land is becoming scarce in major cities States have moved to ban the importation of wastes

– Affected interstate commerce

Consumption of our nations raw materials Increasing trade deficit due to importing of raw materials

Solutions

The committee of RCRA has determined that discarded materials have value in that energy and materials can be recovered from them

Solutions(cont’d)

In recovery, environmental dangers can be avoided such as: – Scarce land supply can be protected – Trade deficit can be reduced – Nations reliance on foreign energy and

materials can be reduced – Useful employment can be generated by

construction of much needed waste management facilities

Federal Programs

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) conducts a program under the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1967(P.L. 89- 272) Program amended by the Resource Recovery Act of 1970(P.L. 91-512)

Federal Programs(cont’d)

Program emphasizes 3 areas: Land disposal and its environmental problems

– Hazardous wastes – Groundwater contamination – Disposal of sludge

Technical assistance to the states(set up a program) Means of reducing the volume of wastes that must be disposed of

– Reduce waste generation – Increase resource recovery

Who is Affected

In a broad sense, RCRA affects many people and the industries in which these people work – Hazardous waste generators must comply with

regulations Record-keeping and reporting Labeling Use of appropriate containers

Who is Affected(cont’d)

Along with the sources of waste, transporters of hazardous wastes must also meet certain standards – Certain wastes require special permits

Treatment, storage, and disposal(TSDs)facilities are required to have permits under this Act – These are to ensure that they are in compliance with

operating and financial requirements Because of violations, the EPA’s enforcement powers were increased – List of prohibited actions constituting crimes were

expanded – Penalties were increased

Administrator of the Act

The committee of RCRA has directed the EPA to determine the hazards associated with the improper management of wastes EPA does this by studying: – Sources and composition of wastes – Existing methods of disposal – Potential dangers due to improper management

Administrator of the Act(cont’d)

• From these studies, the EPA will develop criteria for determining what is a hazardous waste

• The EPA’s main responsibility is to make sure that environmental laws covered in this Act are both cost and environmentally effective

Sample Regulations/Standards

Standards for the Management of Used Oil(40 CFR Part 279) – If it is being recycled then it is not subject to

federal regulations Maximum Concentrations of Contaminants(40 CFR Part 261.24(c)) – EPA gives a waste number specified in the

table that corresponds to the toxic contaminant causing it to be hazardous

Sample Regulations/ Standards(cont’d)

Effective Date(40 CFR Part 310(a))

Employee Protection(40 CFR Part 701(a))

Resources

U.S Code Congressional and Administrative News; 94nd Congress, Second Session, 1976 http://www.cnie.org/nle/leg-8h.html http://www.p2000.umich.edu/overview.htm www.epa.gov www.osha.gov

The End