ABSTRACT
Prior to the enactment of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1976, what Americans had referred to as “landlls” were typically not much more than open dumps (Figure 10.1). There was no requirement for a daily cover of soil, for example, which is important in deterring vectors and preventing other hazards and nuisance conditions. As a result, insect and rodent infestations were common at pre-RCRA facilities, and res were frequently reported. These facilities were typically constructed without protective subsurface liners; therefore, contents readily leached into subsurface formations, including groundwater aquifers. Many were sited in locations thought to be convenient, without regard to subsurface hydrology or groundwater features. There was no requirement for impermeable substrata below the landll unit that might prevent migration of liquids.
