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4.11 Hazards and Hazardous Materials V 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). State The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)and the Office of Emergency Services(OES)of the State of California establish rules governing the use of hazardous substances. The SWRCB has primary responsibility to protect water quality and supply. The Cal/EPA was created in 1991 to better coordinate state environmental programs, reduce administrative duplication, and address the greatest environmental and health risks. The Cal/EPA unifies the state's environmental authority under a single accountable,cabinet-level agency. The �. Secretary for Environmental Protection oversees the following agencies: Air Resources Board, Integrated Waste Management Board,Department of Pesticide Regulation, State Water Resources Control Board,Department of Toxic Substances Control,and Office of Environmental ` Health Hazard Assessment. Applicable State laws include the following: r r RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project - ESA/203015 Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2006 r