EPA's responsibilities under RCRA: administrative law issues

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Ecol. Law Q.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5837823

Marnell, M F

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was intended to encourage retrieval and reuse of waste materials and to regulate disposal of hazardous wastes to minimize the harm to health and environment caused by unsafe disposal. Congress intended that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) integrate the RCRA into a comprehensive system of regulation with other environmental statutes to plug in any gaps. EPA's primary responsibilities under RCRA include acting as a central information bureau for receipt and analysis of scientific data, identifying and listing hazardous wastes to be regulated, and approving state hazardous-waste-disposal plans. The agency's task was to ensure proper disposal while minimizing interference with industrial processes. There is reason to believe that Congress preferred immediate regulation via interim rules over delay pending further scientific investigation. If Congressional intent was to encourage the development of information and technology, it is consistent to place the burden of information production on generators through a petition procedure. 212 references.

• OSTI ID: 5837823
• Journal Information: Ecol. Law Q.; (United States), Journal Name: Ecol. Law Q.; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN ECLQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC HEALTH
RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL ACTS