handling hazardous waste. Similarly, EPA inspects
facilities that export RCRA hazardous wastes.
The U.S. Customs Service operates border crossing
and port locations. At these locations, Customs agents
and inspectors review EPA and commercial shipping
documents and halt improper or undocumented
shipments. They also collect manifests and forward
them to EPA for data entry and analysis.
EPA takes enforcement measures when necessary.
These measures can range from issuing orders to
importers and exporters to correct violations, to
imposing civil and criminal penalties.
What Role Can You Play In Assuring
nni-x. c~jc- TT 	 11: 	 f\f T 	 i_j A 	 i
j.nc otiic jLiaiiuiiug v/i Aiupuncu Aim
Exported Hazardous Waste?
If you have any information about suspicious import
and export activities, or you believe that imported or
exported hazardous wastes are being handled improp-
erly, you can report that information to the appropriate
EPA regional office (RCRA enforcement division), or
directly to the EPA Regional Administrator. You can .
also report suspicious activity to your state environ-
mental agency.
Whom Can I Contact For Further
Information About EPA's Import-Export
Program?
You can reach EPA's Import-Export Program at (202)
564-2290, or by FAX at (202) 564-0025. The mailing
address is:
Import-Export Program
Office of Compliance/EPTDD (Mail Code 2222A)
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
United States Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
The e-mail address is:
Heiss.Robert@epamail.epa.gov
Note: This document is not intended to be a substitute for a
comprehensive knowledge of the requirements of applicable U.S.
laws and regulations. You should consult these requirements
directly.
and the U.S. importer. In OECD situations, there may
be other requirements, such as some additional tracking
information which accompanies the shipment until it
arrives at the intended U.S. receiving facility.
In addition, at least four weeks before receipt of the
waste in the U.S., the receiving facility must notify the
appropriate EPA Regional Administrator in the Region
where the facility is located.
What Role Does EPA Play In
International Trade In Hazardous
Wastes?
Under the international agreements to which the U.S. is
a party, each country designates an agency to control its
international trade in hazardous waste. For the U.S., it
is EPA.
EPA examines export notifications and forwards
them to the importing and transit countries. For
exports to Mexico, the Department of State serves as
the official diplomatic channel between the two
countries.
EPA provides U.S. consent or objection to pro-
posed hazardous waste imports. In performing this
duty, EPA relies on the recommendations of its
regional offices on whether to consent or object,
because these offices have access to permit and
inspection information about the receiving facilities
which allows them to better evaluate a facility's ability
to properly handle a specific hazardous waste ship-
ment.
How Do EPA And The U.S. Customs
Service Ensure That U.S. Importers And
Exporters Comply With The RCRA
Regulations?
-3
T3
S3
$
of
1
i
3

1
$
reports to ensure they are timely and accurate, and
tracks them in a data base. In addition, EPA's regional
offices, and the states which EPA has authorized to
operate the RCRA program, monitor treatment, storage
and disposal facilities (TSDF) which receive imported
hazardous wastes. This is to ensure they have properly
submitted any relevant notifications and are properly

-------
hazardous wastes constitute "raw" material inputs into
industrial and manufacturing processes. This is the
There are a number of reasons why U.S. entities export
hazardous wastes. Often, the nearest waste manage-
ment facility capable of handlmg a particular waste
stream may be just over the international border from
the point of generation. In other cases, there may be a
facility in another country that specializes in treating,
disposing of, or recycling a particular waste. Such a
facility may be the only one of its kind in the world, or
it may present the most environmentally sound
management solution for the waste. In some cases,
Why Do We Export Hazardous Waste?
and Recovery Act (RCRA), defines hazardous waste
according to a number of factors. In 1995, U.S. entities
generated approximately 279 million tons of RCRA
regulated hazardous waste, of which approximately
226,000 tons, or slightly less than 1%, were exported.
The U.S. federal waste law, the Resource Conservation
sludges from industrial wastewater treatment units.
wastes include spent auto batteries, spent solvents, and
Hazardous waste is any of a number of solids, liquids,
or contained gases generated by many modern indus-
trial processes. Some examples of common hazardous
What Is Hazardous Waste?
United States (U.S.) entities export a small percentage
of their hazardous wastes to other countries for
treatment, disposal, and recycling. Similarly, U.S.
entities also import wastes from other countries. The
vast majority of this hazardous waste trade occurs with
Canada, but the U.S. engages in hazardous waste trade
with other countries as well.
This guide describes in general terms the interna-
tional and domestic requkements applicable to U.S.
hazardous waste exports and imports. It also describes
the role which the United States Envkonmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States
Customs Service play in this process. It is designed to
provide the general public with a basic understanding
of the operation and control of this commerce.
Introduction
3
p
era
B
jements












•
cd
S./Malaysia i
5
a.
d
C/l
./Costa Rica
t
5
T3
O
a
CT;
p"
8
0^


•
C
S./Canada an
a.
C^
a>
1
o
t3
i

•
agreement ai
B
§
OQ
e-
e 29 membe
i-t
o
o
1
en
a
»
of

B-
tr
azardous was
CD"
w
$
3
I








B-
0
rnational agre
CD
B
1
V3
concerning

B'
c5"
1
Si
ET
B.
CO
%
cj
Cfl
<§
3
p
O>
£3
S-
&
O
1
£
P
^3
P
a
•
-------