What is EPA doing to protect public health, safety, and the environment?
EPA promulgated Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (40 CFR Part 258) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) on October 9, 1991. The criteria contain location restrictions, design and operating standards, groundwater monitoring requirements, corrective actions, financial assurance requirements, landfill gas migration control, closure requirements, and post closure requirements. Under the design standards new landfills and lateral expansions that occur on or after October 9, 1993 are required to line the bottom and sides of the landfill prior to waste deposition. In addition, all landfills operating after October 9, 1991 must place a final cap over the landfill surface. The placement of liners and caps reduces the potential for subsurface and surface landfill gas migration and groundwater contamination. Recovery and combustion of landfill gas will reduce emissions of organic compounds that would otherwise be released from the landfill. Because of the benefits o
