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4. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 4.11 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(42 US Code Section 6901 et seq./40 CFR) • Safe Drinking Water Act(42 US Code Section 300f et seq./40 CFR) • Toxic Substances Control Act(15 US Code Section 2601 et seq./40 CFR) At the federal level,the principal agency regulating the generation, transport and disposal of hazardous substances is the U.S. EPA, under the authority of RCRA. The RCRA established a federal hazardous substance "cradle-to-grave"regulatory program that is administered by the U.S.EPA. Under RCRA,the U.S. EPA regulates the generation,transportation,treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous substances. The RCRA was amended in 1984 by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Act(HSWA), which affirmed and extended the`cradle-to-grave" system of regulating hazardous substances. The HSWA specifically prohibits the use of certain techniques for the disposal of some hazardous substances. Under the RCRA,individual states may implement their own hazardous substance management programs as long as they are consistent with, and at least as strict as,RCRA. The U.S. EPA must approve state programs intended to implement the RCRA requirements. ` The U.S.EPA regulates hazardous substance sites under CERCLA. The CERCLA,commonly referred to as Superfund,was enacted on December 11, 1980. The purpose of CERCLA was to provide authorities the ability to respond to uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances from inactive hazardous waste sites that endanger public health and the environment. CERCLA established prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites,provided for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at such sites, and established a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible party could be identified. In addition, CERCLA provided for the revision and republishing of the National Contingency Plan(NCP)that provides the guidelines and procedures needed to respond to releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances,pollutants,or contaminants. The NCP also provides for the National Priorities List,a list of national priorities among releases or threatened releases throughout the United States for the purpose of taking remedial action. The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act(SARA)amended CERCLA on October 17, 1986. This amendment increased the size of the Hazardous Response Trust Fund,expanded U.S.EPA's response authority, strengthened enforcement activities at Superfund sites; and broadened the application of the law to include federal facilities. In addition, new provisions were added to the law that dealt with emergency planning and community right to know. SARA also required U.S.EPA to revise the Hazard Ranking System to ensure that it accurately assesses the relative degree of risk to human health and the environment posed by sites and facilities subject to review for listing on the National Priority List(NPL). Hazardous Substances Worker Safety Requirements The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration(Fed/OSHA) is the agency responsible for ensuring worker safety. Fed/OSHA sets federal standards for implementation of training in the work place,exposure limits,and safety procedures in the handling of hazardous RMC Pacific Vernalis Quany Mining and Reclamation Project 4.11-7 FSA/203015 Admi WaUw Draft®2 March 2004