Delay of closure for RCRA hazardous waste management facilities. RCRA Information Brief

Abstract

Owners/operators of hazardous and radioactive mixed waste (RMW) management facilities must perform closure in accordance with applicable closure regulations and facility-specific closure plans. The closure regulations impose deadlines for the notification of closure; for the treatment, removal, or on-site disposal of waste; and for the completion of partial and final closure. On August 14, 1989 Environmental Protection Agency published final regulations allowing hazardous waste landfill, surface impoundment, and land treatment units meeting the criteria described below to delay closure to receive non-hazardous waste [54 FR 33376 et seq., August 14, 1989]. Prior to the promulgation of these requirements, all owners/operators were required to complete closure activities within 90 days of receiving the final volume of hazardous waste, unless they were granted an extension. Owners/operators delaying closure to accept non-hazardous waste are still required to operate under applicable hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) regulations for permitted (40 CFR 264) or interim status (40 CFR 265) facilities. This information Brief describes the circumstances under which owners/operators of hazardous waste management facilities may delay closure to receive non-hazardous waste after the receipt of the final volume of hazardous waste. The revised Federal standards are applicable in states that are notmore » authorized to carry out the RCRA program. States that are authorized to carry out the RCRA program may adopt equivalent regulations under State law. However, because these standards reduce the scope of the existing Federal requirements, authorized states are not required to adopt equivalent regulations [54 FR 33393, August 14, 1989].« less