What Does
Resource Conservation And Recovery Act Mean?
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is a public law that gives the environmental protection agency (EPA) authority to develop the RCRA program and ensure proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. RCRA is the principal federal law in the United States was enacted in 1976.
The goals of RCRA are to:
- Protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal.
- To conserve energy and natural resources.
- Reduce the amount of waste generated.
- To ensure that waste is managed in an environment-friendly manner.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Resource Conservation And Recovery Act
In 1978 EPA proposed a special class of large-volume, lower-toxicity wastes for exemption from RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations. The waste produced from oil and gas exploration and production waste was considered and permanently exempted after EPA completed a comprehensive study about its effect on human health and the environment.
Wastes included in the exemption are drilling fluids, gas and oil drilling muds, waste associated with exploration, development and production of crude oil or natural gas. However; waste generated from transportation and manufacturing operations is not exempt.