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On February 3, 2025, the EPA announced it launched the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in the history of the Agency as it assists local governments and residents in the wake of catastrophic fires in Los Angeles County. As of that date, the EPA had completed reconnaissance at 6,022 properties, which included 3,636 properties impacted […]
In the fourth quarter (Q4), the EPA finalized 206 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a significant decrease in enforcement actions—down from 515 penalties—issued in Q3 for 2023. The actions taken resulted in $4,289,749.25 in fines. Here are some of the highlights. CAA violations yield biggest fine from […]
The EPA recently announced it’s planning to propose new rules to improve the management and recycling of end-of-life solar panels and lithium batteries. Plans for the proposed regulations include modifying the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Universal Waste Rule to add hazardous waste solar panels and to establish a new, distinct category of universal […]
In March, the EPA announced a hazardous waste enforcement action settlement with a Pennsylvania-based chemical manufacturer. The company will pay a penalty in the amount of $44,800 and has now certified its compliance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements.
No environment, health, and safety (EHS) manager wants to experience a release of hazardous materials or waste. Accidents happen, however, and it’s important to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Experts at EHS Hero recently answered a subscriber’s question about release reporting requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)—let’s see what […]
Peter Wright, assistant administrator of the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), announced the 2030 Vision and Goals for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action hazardous waste facility cleanup program at the Association of State And Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials 2020 RCRA Corrective Action Virtual Conference on September 1, […]
A major environmental provision in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (S. 612) would give states the authority to establish, implement, and enforce their own permitting programs for the management and disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) from electric power plants. Lawmakers from both the House and the Senate recently reached a […]
As frequent visitors to EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Online database already know, the Agency’s hazardous waste regulations prompt a constant stream of questions from both regulated entities and RCRA-authorized states about applicability, lack of clarity, and regulatory gaps. A small fraction of EPA’s answers and interpretations responding to such questions have now […]
Generators of hazardous waste that meet the current Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards for being conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs) will be “rebranded” as “very small quantity generators” (VSQGs) when the proposed Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule (Rule) is finalized (most likely this month). Whether such generators are called CESQGs or VSQGs, […]
In response to an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the EPA has issued a direct final rule amending its regulations (April 17, 2015, FR) governing the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) as solid waste under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D. In the CCR rule, the […]