A discussion showed that the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) requires hazardous waste to be defined both in terms of inherent characteristics, such as flammability and corrosiveness, and by listing of particular hazardous waste. National standards for hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facilities describe the performance, operating, and design requirements for acceptable facilities. All hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facilities are required to have RCRA permits. In order to obtain a permit, each facility must demonstrate that it can meet all applicable national facility standards. Several major implementation problems have arisen, including: the interstate movement of hazardous waste, the potential lack of acceptable hazardous waste facility capacity to accommodate all the hazardous waste which will be regulated under this new program, and the new requirement for financial responsibility for owners and operators of hazardous waste facilities.