January 19, 2024

Upcoming Changes to the RCRA Regulations

EPA’s Fall 2023 regulatory agenda has been released. The following table summarizes the agency’s Office of Land and Emergency Management’s (OLEM) plans for proposing and finalizing new regulations. Among other things, OLEM is responsible for crafting RCRA regulations. The table is not all-inclusive of every OLEM regulatory action. Instead, it includes those actions McCoy and Associates believe to be of broad interest to the regulated community.

Fall 2023 OLEM Regulatory Agenda

Rule description

Action

Schedule date

Revising the Part 241 nonhazardous secondary material standards

Final rule

08/23

Definition of hazardous waste applicable to SWMUs

NPRM

11/23

Drum management and reconditioning proposed rulemaking

ANPRM

11/23

Revisions to standards for the OB/OD of waste explosives

NPRM

11/23

Listing PFOA, PFAS, PFBS, and GenX as RCRA hazardous constituents

NPRM

12/23

Updates to RCRA permitting and technical corrections

NPRM

2/24

Designating PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances

Final rule

3/24

Integrating e-manifest with exports and other manifest-related reports

Final rule

4/24

Disposal of CCR—legacy surface impoundments

Final rule

4/24

Disposal of CCR—closure Part B, implementation of closure

Final rule

10/24

Universal waste regulations for solar panels and lithium batteries1

NPRM

6/25

PFAS-related designations as CERCLA hazardous substances1

NPRM

8/25

Disposal of CCR—federal permit program1

Final rule

3/26

Disposal of CCR—beneficial use criteria and piles1

Final rule

TBD

ANPRM = advanced notice of proposed rulemaking; CCR = coal combustion residues; NPRM = notice of proposed rulemaking; OB/OD = open burning/open detonation; SWMU = solid waste management units; TBD = to be determined

1Long-term actions: Items under development but for which the agency does not expect to have a regulatory action within 12 months after publication in the regulatory agenda.

Source: EPA’s Fall 2023 regulatory agenda; EPA’s Fall 2023 long-term actions.

 


©2024 McCoy and Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

McCoy and Associates has provided in-depth information to assist environmental professionals with complex compliance issues since 1982. Our seminars and publications are widely trusted by environmental professionals for their consistent quality, clarity, and comprehensiveness.

 

Disclaimer

Considerable care has been exercised in preparing this document; however, McCoy and Associates, Inc. makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with the publication of this information. McCoy and Associates, Inc. expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal law or regulation with which this information may conflict. McCoy and Associates, Inc. does not undertake any duty to ensure the continued accuracy of this information.

This document addresses issues of a general nature related to the federal environmental regulations. Persons evaluating specific circumstances dealing with the environmental regulations should review state and local laws and regulations, which may be more stringent than federal requirements. In addition, the assistance of a qualified professional should be enlisted to address any site-specific circumstances.