Standards Applicable to Owners and Operators of Closed and Closing Hazardous Waste Management Facilities; Post-Closure Permit Requirement; Closure Process

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in two areas. First, the Agency is modifying the requirement for a post- closure permit, to allow EPA and the authorized States to use a variety of authorities to impose requirements on non-permitted land disposal units requiring post-closure care. As a result of this rule, regulators have the flexibility to use alternate mechanisms under a variety of authorities to address these requirements, based on the particular needs at the facility. Second, for all facilities, the Agency is amending the regulations governing closure of land-based units that have released hazardous constituents, to allow certain units to be addressed through the corrective action program. As a result of this rule, EPA and the authorized States will have discretion to use corrective action requirements, rather than closure requirements, to address the regulated units. This flexibility will reduce the potential for confusion and inefficiency created by the application of two different regulatory requirements. Finally, the Agency is specifying the Part B information submission requirements for facilities that receive post-closure permits.