RCRA

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Permit

• RCRA Permit (ERP-OP-0001)
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
  RCRA (pronounced "rick-rah") gave EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-the-grave." RCRA regulates the Laboratory's ER Project. As enacted in 1976, RCRA's hazardous waste management provisions govern the day-to-day operations of hazardous waste generation, treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Under RCRA, the Laboratory qualifies as a treatment and storage facility and has a permit to operate regulated hazardous waste treatment and storage units. RCRA focuses only on active and future facilities and does not address abandoned or historical sites (see CERCLA)

HSWA

Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA)

• HSWA Permit (ERP-OP-0002)
• Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA)
  Congress amended RCRA in 1984 by passing the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA, pronounced "hiss-wa"). Sections 201, 202, 203, 206, 207, 212, 215, and 224 of HSWA modified the permitting sections of RCRA (Sections 3004 and 3005). In accordance with these provisions of HSWA, the Laboratory's permit to operate hazardous waste treatment and storage units includes a section (called the HSWA Module) that prescribes a specific corrective action program for the Laboratory, which focuses primarily on the investigation and cleanup, if required, of inactive sites

Hazardous Waste Facility Permit

Hazardous Waste Facility Permit Modifications

A request made by either the Laboratory or the administrative authority (New Mexico Environment Department and/or Department of Energy) to change a condition of the Laboratory's Hazardous Waste Facility Permit. Permit modifications provide flexibility to change permit conditions, expand public notification and participation opportunities, and allow for expedited approval if no public exist regarding a proposed change.

Modifications

Permit Modifications

Permit modifications consist of three classes:

• Class I: routine changes, such as correcting typographical errors replacing equipment with functionally equivalent equipment.
• Class II: common or frequently occurring changes needed to maintain a facility's level of safety or a facility's requirement to conform to new regulations.
• Class III: major changes that substantially alter the facility or its operations. Procedures for public involvement differ among the three classes based on the degree of change.