09.01.2015 Views

Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

California Department of Fish and Game<br />

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<br />

Section 3.9. Hazardous Substances and Waste<br />

Specific reference information is provided in the text.<br />

Regulatory Overview<br />

Regulatory Setting<br />

Several federal and state agencies regulate the use, generation, transport, and<br />

disposal of hazardous substances.<br />

Federal<br />

The EPA is the principal federal regulatory agency responsible for the safe use<br />

and handling of hazardous materials.<br />

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act<br />

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) enables the EPA to<br />

administer a regulatory program that extends from the manufacture of hazardous<br />

materials to their disposal, thereby regulating the generation, transport, treatment,<br />

storage, and disposal of hazardous waste at all facilities and sites in the nation.<br />

The 1986 amendments to the RCRA enabled the EPA to address environmental<br />

problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other<br />

hazardous substances. The RCRA focuses only on active and future facilities and<br />

does not address abandoned or historical sites.<br />

The Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) are the 1984<br />

amendments to the RCRA that required phasing out land disposal of hazardous<br />

waste. Some of the other mandates of this strict law include increased<br />

enforcement authority for the EPA, more stringent hazardous waste management<br />

standards, and a comprehensive underground storage tank program.<br />

1980 Comprehensive <strong>Environmental</strong> Response, Compensation, and<br />

Liability Act (Superfund Act) and 1986 Superfund Amendment and<br />

Reauthorization Act Title III<br />

The Comprehensive <strong>Environmental</strong> Response, Compensation, and Liability Act<br />

(CERCLA), or Superfund, was passed to facilitate the cleanup of the nation’s<br />

toxic waste sites. In 1986, Superfund was amended by the Superfund<br />

Amendment and Reauthorization Act Title III (community right-to-know laws),<br />

also called the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, which<br />

states that past and present owners of land contaminated with hazardous<br />

substances can be held liable for the entire cost of cleanup even if the material<br />

was dumped illegally when the property was under different ownership. Under<br />

CERCLA, EPA has the authority to seek the parties responsible for hazardous<br />

materials releases and to ensure their cooperation in site remediation. These<br />

regulations also establish reporting requirements that provide the public with<br />

information on hazardous chemicals in their communities to enhance community<br />

Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration<br />

Project Final <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong><br />

Report/<strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong><br />

3.9-2<br />

April 2012

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!