Module 1: Regulations - International Association of Fire Fighters

IAFF Training for Hazardous Materials: Technician© Student Text
The Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA)
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act has been
incorporated into the 40 CFR, specifically part 260 through
270. RCRA is regulated by the Environmental Protection
Agency. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
written in 1976, was the first comprehensive federal effort
to deal with solid and hazardous waste. Subtitle C of the
Act was to form and enforce regulations concerning tracking
and managing hazardous wastes from the point of
generation to the ultimate disposal—“cradle to grave”
management.
RCRA states that persons managing solid wastes are
charged with the responsibility of identifying those wastes
which meet one or more of the characteristics of hazardous
wastes. Such persons are responsible also for providing
notification to EPA of any waste disposal activity involving
hazardous wastes. Persons who have solid wastes that meet
the definition of hazardous wastes are known as generators.
Generators have the responsibility to manage hazardous
wastes according to generator standards. These standards
include preparing manifests to track the shipment of
hazardous waste from the generation point to the ultimate
treatment or disposal site. Generators must also use those
transporters and treatment, storage, or disposal facilities
(TSDF) that are appropriately licensed by the federal and
state governments. Finally, RCRA gave the EPA the power
to enforce the regulations written and adopted in title 40 of
the Code of Federal Regulations.
The following list outlines the regulations listed in the 40
CFR that are applicable to RCRA. It is this portion of the
regulation where definitions and generator requirements are
found.
1-70 Module 1: Regulations