United States EPA530-F-92-005 Environmental Protection June 1992 Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OS-305) Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paper that contains at least 50% recycled fiber ------- Congress passed the Resource Conserva- tion and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1976 _ ^to create a framework for the proper management of hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste. The Act is continuously evolving as Congress amends it to reflect the nation's changing solid waste needs. For each modification to the Act, EPA devel- ops regulations that spell out how the statute's broad policies are to be carried out. The RCRA Information Center (RIG) was formed to house both documents used in writing these regulations as well as EPA publications produced for public guidance on solid waste issues. The documents stored in the RIC are divided into two basic categories: (1) documents involved in various stages of rulemaking; and (2) general documents discussing the various aspects of recycling, treatment, and disposal of hazardous and solid waste. Rulemaking Dockets _ Docket files generated from RCRA-related rulings. Each file is composed of two sections: (1) technical support documents that were used by EPA in the development of the particular rule; and (2) com- ments from companies, individuals, environmental organizations, and various levels of government. B Reprints of Federal Registers containing RCRA- related issues. • Administrative Records, which are rulemaking dockets that have undergone litigation. Genera! Documents/Collections Catalogue of Hazardous and Solid Waste Publications, which lists the RIC's most popular documents. The catalogue is updated periodically. Office of Solid Waste Policy Directives, which out- line EPA's position on a topic or give instructions on how a procedure should be conducted. Guidance documents, which provide directions for implementing the regulations for disposal and treatment of hazardous and solid wastes. i Brochures, booklets, and executive summaries of reports concerning waste reduction and disposal ' issues surrounding solid and hazardous wastes. I A historical collection of Office of Solid Waste documents. I Regulatory Development Branch memos written by EPA officials in response to questions from ', organizations and individuals concerning hazardous and solid waste regulations. i Health and Environmental Effects Profiles . (HEEPs) and Health and Environmental Effects Documents (HEEDs). Hours and Location The RIC is open to the public from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. It is recommended that visitors make an appointment so that the material they wish to view is ready when they arrive. Patrons may either call for assistance at 202-260-9327 or write to the following address: ; RCRA Information Center (OS-305) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW. Washington, DC 20460 Photocopying and Microfilming Many documents are available only in the origi- nal and, therefore, must be photocopied. Patrons are allowed 100 free photocopies. Thereafter they are charged 15 cents per page. When necessary, an invoice stating how many copies were made, the cost of the order, and where to send a check can be issued to the patron. Documents also are available on microfilm. The RIC staff help patrons locate needed docu- ments and operate the microfilm machines. The billing fee for printing microfilm documents is the same as for photocopying documents. Patrons who are outside of the metropolitan Washington, DC, area can request documents by telephone. The photocopying and microfilming fee is the same as for walk-in patrons. If an in- voice is necessary, RIC staffers can mail one with the order. ------- Additional EPA Sources of Hazardous and Solid Waste Information The RCRA/Superfund Hotline Telephone Numbers: 1 -800-424-9346 TDD: 1-800-553-7672 (hearing impaired) For Washington, DC, and outside the United States: 703-920-9810 .TDD:703-486-3323 (hearing impaired) Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 7:30 pm EST The Hotline answers questions concerning techni- cal aspects of RCRA. It also provides EPA interpreta- tions of sections of the Code of Federal Regulations that pertain to RCRA. The Hotline also takes requests and makes referrals for obtaining OSW publications. Solid Waste Information Clearinghouse (SWICH) Telephone Number: 1 -800-67-SWICH Located in the offices of the Solid Waste Associa- tion of North America (SWANA), this clearinghouse contains a reference library and an electronic data base. The library contains journals, reports, studies, periodicals, and audiovisual material on disposal, recycling, composting, and collection of solid waste. The Electronic Bulletin Board (EBB) provides cur- rent information on meetings and conferences, new technologies, and new publications. It also lists changes in legislation on the state and federal levels. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 301-585-0204 with the use of a modem. Recycled Products Information Clearinghouse (RPIC) Telephone Number: 703-941 -4452 Purveys general and state legislative information about recycled products, including a list of compa- nies from which recycled products are available. RPIC was formerly called the Procurement Guide- lines Hotline. O^W Methods Information Communication Exchange (MICE) Telephone Number: 703-821 -4789 A telephone service implemented by the Methods Section of the EPA Office of Solid Waste to answer stions on test methods used on organic and ------- inorganic chemicals. These tests are discussed in the EPA document Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods (Document Number: SW-846). Patrons can call MICE 24 hours a day and are requested to leave a message stating their name, organization, telephone number, and an explana- tion of what they need. Questions are usually an- swered within one business day. Underground Storage Tank Docket Telephone Number: 202-260-9720 Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm EST Provides documents and regulatory information pertinent to RCRA's Subtitle I (the Underground Storage Tank program). Superfund Docket Telephone Number: 202-260-3046 Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm EST Provides rulemaking material pertinent to the Superfund Program and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Hazardous Waste Ombudsman Program Telephone Numbers: 1-800-262-7937,202-260-9361 Contact: Bob Knox Assists private citizens and organizations that have been unable to voice a complaint or resolve problems through normal channels in coping with the complexities of hazardous waste and Super- fund legislation. Each region has an ombudsman representative. For more information, call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline or the contact cited above. Small Business Hotline Telephone Numbers: 1 -800-368-5888, 703-557-1938 (metropolitan Washington, DC, area) Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST Helps small businesses comply with environ- mental laws and EPA regulations. Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (PPIC) Telephone Number: 703-821 -4800 A center for dissemination of pollution prevention information. PPIC's services include a reference library; a computerized network, the Pollution Preveri tion Information Exchange System (PIES), which pro vides access to data bases and documents via PC; £ hotline; and outreach, including general and technica Information packets. Public Information Center (PIC) Telephone Number: 202-260-2080 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm EST for phone calls, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm EST for walk-in visitors Provides general, nontechnical environmental information through its brochures, booklets, and pamphlets. EPA Headquarters Library Reference Desk: 202-260-5921 'Interlibrary Loan Desk: 202-260-5060 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm EST The Headquarters Library is the reference library for the Agency. It offers a broad range of sources of environmental information including reports from various EPA offices and trade and environmental journals. The collection also features departments such as the "Hazardous Waste Collection" and "INFOTERRA," which accommodates foreign patrons' requests. A STOREHOUSE OF INFORMATION *U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1992-0-328-153 ------- |