What Laws Govern The Handling, Disposal and Treatment of Hazardous Wastes?
Two federal statutes, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, better known as Superfund, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act govern the handling, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes. Superfund requires those companies responsible for past disposal of hazardous waste to clean up the contamination to protect public health and the environment. Over 1300 sites in the United States are classified as Superfund sites. The ETC concentrates on Superfund issues that concern technologies for the clean up of the waste–often called the remedy issues. Superfund has a preference for treatment that achieves permanent solutions to provide long-term protection. In the legistrative debates over possible changes to the Superfund law, the ETC has supported retaining this stationary preference for treatment of wastes to assure permanent solutions. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), has established a national program for the proper manageme
