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
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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.
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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
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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
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