EPA Withdraws Proposed Rule on Hazardous Waste Definitions for Facility Cleanups
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Table of Contents
The Environmental Protection Agency is pulling back a proposed rule it issued in February 2024. The original proposal would have changed how the agency defines hazardous waste when ordering cleanups at permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Specifically, it aimed to tie the cleanup requirements directly to the broader statutory definition of hazardous waste in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, rather than the narrower list of substances currently in EPA regulations.
Why it matters: This is primarily an administrative adjustment. By withdrawing the proposal, EPA is keeping the current framework for facility cleanups intact. It avoids adding a layer of regulatory complexity that could slow down or complicate how permits are issued and enforced. The practical effect is that nothing changes for facility operators or state regulators right now.
Who it affects
- Owners and operators of permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
This action comes from the Environmental Protection Agency Federal Register notice titled Definition of Hazardous Waste Applicable to Corrective Action for Releases From Solid Waste Management Units; Withdrawal, and you should check the original document before relying on it for compliance or permitting decisions.
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Source: Federal Register — read the official document