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III. Environmental Setting,Impacts, and Mitigations L. Public Health and Safety common goal of all regulatory oversight is to assure that adequate controls are in place to prevent the landfill from having adverse impacts on public health, safety,or the environment. r Federal Environmental Pr . The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency PA Agen'X 1; Y� )is the primary federal agency responsible for solid waste management,although the EPA has delegated facility review responsibilities to state and local jurisdictions. Principal federal statutes that affect solid waste management include the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1967,the Resource Recovery Act of 1970,the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA)of 1976 and its 1984 amendments(the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments),the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,and Liability Act(CERCLA)of 1980 and its 1986 amendments (the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act). In October of 1991,under statutory Y authorit granted under the Hazardous and Solid Wastes Amendments to RCRA,EPA promulgated the RCRA Subtitle D regulations that regulate solid waste facilities. Federal Subtitle D regulations preempt any state solid waste regulations that are less restrictive. The goals of the regulations are to: (1)increase source reduction and recycling; (2)increase disposal capacity and improve markets for recycled materials; and (3)improve safety of solid waste facilities. The Subtitle D regulations take effect in October of 1993 and will be enforced directly by EPA or by individual states. To enforce Subtitle D regulations, a state must develop an EPA-approved enforcement program for solid waste landfills. California and EPA are in the process of negotiating how Subtitle D regulations will be implemented and whether changes in California requirements will be needed to address Subtitle D requirements(Finch, r 1992). ri✓ The EPA also regulates hazardous waste facilities. RCRA Subtitle C regulations deal with the permitting of hazardous waste facilities,and a RCRA Subtitle C permit is required for all facilities that transfer,store,treat,or dispose of hazardous wastes. Household hazardous waste is exempt from RCRA. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration(Fed/OSHA)is responsible for assuring worker safety in the handling and use of potentially hazardous materials in the workplace. III.L.2