RCRA Update: Where is the Generator Improvements Rule in Effect Now?

Across America, states are adopting major revisions to the RCRA hazardous waste regulations, including new rules put forth in EPA’s 2016 “Generator Improvements Rule.”

When EPA creates new rules that are more stringent than previous regulations, as is the case with many of the Generator Improvements updates, all states must adopt the more-stringent provisions in order to maintain authorization to run their state program.

Recent updates: More stringent hazardous waste regulations took effect in Arizona on March 1, 2019 and in Washington on April 28, 2019. Earlier this year, Illinois became the 20^th state to adopt the Generator Improvements Rule.

Be ready when stricter requirements take effect in your state. Save your seat for the expert-led RCRA Refresher Webinar on June 4 to meet EPA’s annual hazardous waste training mandate and keep your operations in full compliance.

On the map below, blue states are those in which the new RCRA rules are in effect now.

The remaining states are expected to adopt at least the more-stringent elements of EPA’s Generator Improvements Rule in 2019 or 2020. Lion News will continue to provide updates as more states revise their hazardous waste regulations.

Which New RCRA Rules are More Stringent Than Previous Regs?

More-stringent requirements from EPA's Generator Improvements Rule that all states must adopt include:

• Re-notification requirement for small quantity generators.
• New labeling requirements for hazardous waste containers.
• Expanded requirements for contingency plans.

Arizona Hazardous Waste Regulations

Arizona’s hazardous waste rules incorporate US EPA’s RCRA regulations by reference and are nearly identical to the Federal hazardous waste requirements.

New requirements for Arizona’s hazardous waste generators—including electronic manifest requirements, the Generator Improvements updates, and others—took effect on March 1, 2019.

Washington Dangerous Waste Regulations

Washington’s Department of Ecology (DOE) adopted updates in the Generator Improvements Rule and other RCRA changes, including:

• Conditional exclusion of solvent-contaminated wipes
• Revisions to the Definition of Solid Waste (DSW)
• Revisions to export provisions for CRTs
• Hazardous waste import-export revisions
• EPA’s electronic hazardous waste manifest (e-Manifest) standards

These major updates took effect on April 28, 2019.

In Seattle on August 15–16, the RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Workshop will cover all of the updates thats generators must know, including new and revised requirements in the Generator Improvements Rule. 

EPA Authorizes Changes to Florida Regs

Florida has updated its program to adopt updates in the Generator Improvements Rule and other new RCRA requirements. The new requirements took effect in June 2018, and the Sunshine State received Final Authorization from US EPA on May 10, 2019.

Get RCRA Trained—When You Want, Where You Want

US EPA requires hazardous waste professionals to complete annual training on the RCRA requirements. Lion makes it easy to meet your RCRA training mandate in a variety of formats—nationwide public workshops, convenient online courses, live webinars, and on-site training.

Browse RCRA training options here to find the course that fits your needs, your schedule, and your learning style.
 

Tags: generator improvements, hazardous waste management, new rules, RCRA