ABSTRACT
The 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) give the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) new authority to require cleanup of environmental contamination at operating industrial facilities. The amendments include three provisions which address corrective action for releases of hazardous waste and hazardous constituents. Under section 3004(u), a RCRA permit must include requirements for corrective action for releases from solid waste management units (SWMUs). Section 3008(h) gives the EPA authority to issue corrective action enforcement orders at RCRA interim status facilities: facilities which have managed hazardous waste under RCRA but have not obtained an operating permit. Section 3004(v) extends the EPA’s authority beyond the facility boundary.
