IMPLEMENTING THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AND RECOVERY ACT OF 1976
BY
SHELDON MEYERS
DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D,C, 20460
PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S
ANNUAL MEETING AT THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO, CORONADO, CALIFORNIA
ON JUNE 27, 1977,
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GOOD MORNING, IT GIVES ME SPECIAL PLEASURE TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND
RECOVERY ACT BEFORE THIS PARTICULAR AUDIENCE, ENACTMENT OF
THE LAW IN OCTOBER OF 1976 MARKED THE FIRST MAJOR COMMITMENT
BY THIS COUNTRY TO BRING THE HEALTH-RELATED ASPECTS OF
SOLID WASTES UNDER CONTROL, IT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP
FORWARD, THAT THIS AUDIENCE, I AM SURE, KEENLY APPRECIATES,
BEFORE DISCUSSING THE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE ACT,
LET ME BRIEFLY SUM UP THE PROBLEMS WE FACE, WHILE THERE ARE
NO EXACT MEASUREMENTS OF THE COUNTRY'S MULTIFARIOUS WASTES,
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WE PRODUCE ABOUT 145 MILLION TONS OF
MUNICIPAL TRASH AND GARBAGE EACH YEAR, ABOUT 260 MILLION
TONS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTES, OF WHICH 30 MILLION TONS CAN BE
CLASSIFIED AS HAZARDOUS, AND ABOUT FIVE MILLION TONS OF
SEWAGE SLUDGE, THESE ARE THE CRITICAL SOLID WASTE PROBLEMS
IN TERMS OF RESOURCE WASTAGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRON-
MENTAL DAMAGE, EVEN THOUGH, IN TERMS OF VOLUME, THEY ARE
DWARFED BY MINING WASTES, OF WHICH WE PRODUCE 1,7 BILLION
TONS PER YEAR, AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES, OF WHICH WE PRODUCE
2V3 BILLION TONS PER YEAR, TRENDS POINT TOWARD CONTINUED
GROWTH IN SOLID WASTE GENERATION AS CONSUMPTION/PRODUCTION,
AND POPULATION INCREASE,
THE 30 MILLION TONS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES CONTAIN TOXIC
CHEMICALS, PESTICIDES, ACIDS, CAUSTICS, FLAMMABLES, AND
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EXPLOSIVES, THE TONNAGE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 30
PERCENT IN THE NEXT DECADE-IN LARGE PART, IRONICALLY,
BECAUSE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS HAVE CURTAILED EMISSIONS
INTO THE AIR, WATERWAYS, AND OCEANS, HUNDREDS OF CASES OF
INJURY TO HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE HAVE BEEN TRACED
TO IMPROPERLY MANAGED HAZARDOUS WASTES,
THE CONGRESS FOUND THAT THE TASK OF SAFELY DEALING WITH
LAND DISPOSAL OF VIRTUALLY.ANY TYPE OF WASTE IS ALSO FORMID-
ABLE, A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1975 REVEALED THAT THERE WERE
ABOUT 19,000 LAND DISPOSAL SITES ACCEPTING MUNICIPAL WASTES,
LESS THAN 6,000 OF THEM MET EXISTING STATE STANDARDS, MOST
OF THESE SITES ALSO RECEIVED INDUSTRIAL WASTES AND THERE
WERE IN ADDITION THOUSANDS OF PRIVATELY OWNED INDUSTRIAL
SITES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY,
FINDING ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE WAYS TO DISPOSE OF OR USE
SEWAGE SLUDGE IS AN INCREASINGLY URGENT PROBLEM FOR MANY
CITIES, THE FIVE MILLION TONS GENERATED TODAY IS EXPECTED
Tti DOUBLE BY 1985 AS WE CONTINUE TO UPGRADE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT FACILITIES, UNLESS PROPERLY MANAGED, SEWAGE
SLUDGE, WHICH OFEN CONTAINS HEAVY METALS, CAN BECOME A
THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT,
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IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE
OF WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAUSED BY LAND DISPOSAL OF
WASTES, THE GROUND WATERS IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE
BEEN AFFECTED BY LEACHATE FROM DISPOSAL SITES, CONTAMINATION
OF GROUND WATER IS PARTICULARLY SERIOUS BECAUSE ONCE .IT
OCCURS IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT, AND AN
AQUIFER MAY BE RULED OUT AS A SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR
DECADES, THE NATION'S INCREASING DEPENDENCE ON GROUND WATER
SUPPLIES AND THE GROWING WASTE BURDENS DESTINED FOR THE
LAND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE MUST IMPROVE LAND DISPOSAL PRACTICES,
IN ADDITION TO WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS, OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS
MORE TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SOLID WASTE—THE SANITATION
PROBLEMS OF UNCOLLECTED GARBAGE AND OPEN DUMPS, THE FIRE
HAZARDS, AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS, GAS FORMATION IN LANDFILLS-
ALL SERVE TO UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT SOLID" WASTE MANAGEMENT
IS A PUBLIC HEALTH, AN ENVIRONMENTAL, AND A RESOURCE CONSER-
VATION ISSUE,
REDUCING WASTE GENERATION AND INCREASING THE RECOVERY
Of RESOURCES WOULD LESSEN BOTH THE POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE DISPOSAL AND THE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL .
EFFECTS WHICH ACCOMPANY THE ENTIRE CYCLE OF MATERIALS PRODUCTION
AND USE, HOWEVER, NATIONAL HISTORICAL ATTITUDES, HABITS,
TRADITIONS, AND LAWS HAVE TENDED TO DISCOURAGE THE REDUCTION
OF WASTE OR THE RECOVERY OF MATERIALS AND ENERGY FROM THE
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POST-CONSUMER WASTE STREAM, IN 1976 ABOUT SIX PERCENT OF
POST-CONSUMER WASTES WERE RECOVERED,
THEORETICALLY, THE MUNICIPAL WASTES FROM LARGER URBAN
AREAS COULD GENERATE ENERGY EQUAL TO 400,000 BARRELS OF OIL
PER DAY-NEARLY A THIRD OF THE PROJECTED INITIAL FLOW FROM
THE ALASKA PIPELINE, RECOVERY OF THE MATERIALS FROM RESI-
DENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WASTES COULD PROVIDE THREE PERCENT OF
THE NATION'S LEAD, FIVE PERCENT OF ITS COPPER, SEVEN PERCENT
OF ITS IRON, EIGHT PERCENT OF ITS ALUMINUM, 19 PERCENT OF
ITS TIN, AND 14- PERCENT OF ITS PAPER AT PRESENT LEVELS OF
TECHNOLOGY ALONE,
ANOTHER.IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE INCREASING
COSTS OF MANAGING WASTES-CURRENCY ALMOST $4 BILLION A
YEAR FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE ALONE,- COLLECTION COSTS
ACCOUNT FOR AROUND THREE-QUARTERS OF THIS, BUT DISPOSAL
COSTS ARE ALSO VERY HIGH IN MANY URBAN AREAS BECAUSE NEW
LANDFILL SITES ARE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH AND
EXPENSIVE LONG HAULS TO DISTANT SITES ARE COMMON, IT IS
EXPECTED THAT THE UPGRADING OF LAND DISPOSAL PRACTICES TO A
LEVEL THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE, WHICH IS MANDATED
UNDER THE NEW LAW, WILL ADD CONSIDERABLY TO DISPOSAL COSTS,
THIS MAY CONSTRAIN THE UPGRADING PROCESS, BUT IT WILL ALSO
PROVIDE AN ADDED INCENTIVE FOR UNDERTAKING RESOURCE RECOVERY,
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THE SOLID WASTE PROBLEM IS COMPLEX, HOW WE DEAL WITH
SOLID' WASTE INFLUENCES, AND IS IN TURN INFLUENCED BY, FAR-
REACHING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES, THESE RANGE FROM THE
ATTITUDES OF THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN AND CONSUMER, THROUGH
THE OPTIONS SELECTED IN REGARD TO EXTRACTION OF RAW MATERIALS
AND MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING, TO SUCH COMPLEX ISSUES AS
DEPLETION ALLOWANCES AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICIES,
BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT
OF 1965, AND THE RESOURCE RECOVERY ACT OF 1970, THE RESOURCE
CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT OF 1976 IS THE EVOLUTIONARY
PRODUCT OF SEVERAL YEARS OF DELIBERATION AND HEARINGS HELD
BY A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS,
THE ACT CALLS FOR NEW PATTERNS OF INTERACTION AMONG ALL
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE ASSUMPTION OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
BY INDUSTRY ON SEVERAL FRONTS, AND FOR MEANINGFUL PUBLIC •
UNDERSTANDING AND PARTICIPATION IN ALL THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES .
IT MANDATES, IF WE EXAMINE IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
RECENTLY PASSED TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT AND THE SAFE
DRINKING WATER ACT, IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT THE CONGRESS IS
REFLECTING A NEW DIMENSION IN PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
IS ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS GOES
FAR BEYOND THE RELATIVELY SIMPLISTIC ATTITUDES SO POPULAR A
DECADE AGO WHEN MANY SEEMED TO THINK THAT PLACING STOPPERS
ON AIR-POLLUTING STACKS AND WATER-POLLUTING OUTFALL PIPES WAS
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ALL THAT WAS NEEDED TO SAVE US FROM BURGEONING ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS WE HAD NEGLECTED DURING TWO CENTURIES OF TECHNOLOGIC
AND ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENT,
SUBTITLE C OF THE NEW LAW BRINGS MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS
WASTES UNDER FEDERAL-STATE REGULATORY CONTROL, EPA IS
REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THESE WASTES, SET STANDARDS FOR THEIR
MANAGEMENT FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE, AND ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR
STATE PROGRAMS BY APRIL 1978, THE STANDARDS GO INTO EFFECT
SIX MONTHS AFTER THEIR PROMULGATION, STATES ARE TO ESTABLISH
HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTROL PROGRAMS THAT WILL MEET FEDERAL
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND ISSUE PERMITS FOR TREATMENT, STORAGE,
AND DISPOSAL OF SUCH WASTES, IN THOSE STATES WHICH CHOOSE
NOT TO DO SO, FEDERAL REGULATIONS WILL APPLY, CIVIL AND
CRIMINAL PENALTIES ARE ESTABLISHED FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, TO
ASSIST STATES IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A HAZARDOUS
WASTE PROGRAM, GRANTS ARE AUTHORIZED FOR EACH OF FISCAL
YEARS 1978 AND 1979, THE MOST CRUCIAL AND DIFFICULT OF THE
HAZARDOUS WASTE PROVISIONS IS DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATUTORY
DEFINITION OF HAZARDOUS WASTES, SINCE THIS DEFINITION WILL
DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE REGULATORY PROGRAM AND WILL THUS
HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM,
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WITHIN EPA, PLANS FOR DEVELOPING THE HAZARDOUS WASTE
CRITERIA, REGULATIONS, AND GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN APPROVED,
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AND WORKING GROUPS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, DOZENS OF PUBLIC
MEETINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HELD, AND DRAFTING OF THE REQUIRED
DOCUMENTS HAS BEGUN, SINCE, HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL DATA NEED
TO BE DEVELOPED AND EVALUATED AND A GREAT DEAL MORE CONSULTATION,
DELIBERATION, AND PUBLIC REVIEW WILL TAKE PLACE, WE ARE
STILL FAR FROM THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF FORMAL PROPOSALS
IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.
TO BRING OTHER WASTES UNDER CONTROL, A LESS DIRECT BUT
NEVERTHELESS COMPELLING MECHANISM IS TO BE USED, THE LAW
INCREASES FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE,
REGIONAL, AND LOCAL AGENCIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPRE-
HENSIVE PROGRAMS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND DISPOSAL, RESOURCE
RECOVERY, AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION UNDER SUBTITLE D, TO
FACILITATE REGIONAL PLANNING, EPA IS REQUIRED, WITHIN SIX
MONTHS OF ENACTMENT OF THE LAW, TO ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR
IDENTIFYING REGIONAL AREAS WITH COMMON SOLID WASTE PROBLEMS;
USING THESE GUIDELINES, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THEN
TO IDENTIFY REGIONS AND THE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE
F0R DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE STATE PLAN, EPA GUIDELINES
FOR STATE PLANS ARE TO BE ISSUED BY APRIL 1978,
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FOR A STATE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS UNDER SUBTITLE D,
ITS SOLID WASTE PLAN MUST MEET MINIMUM CRITERIA, AMONG THEM
IS INCLUSION OF A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL SOLID WASTE BE UTILIZED
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FOR RESOURCE RECOVERY, DISPOSED OF IN A SANITARY LANDFILL
OR DISPOSED OF IN SOME OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANNER,
THE PLAN MUST ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE CLOSING OR UPGRADING OF
ALL EXISTING OPEN DUMPS,
CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING OPEN DUMPS AND FOR IDENTIFYING
SANITARY LANDFILLS ARE TO BE PUBLISHED BY EPA NO LATER THAN
OCTOBER 1977, AND A NATIONAL INVENTORY OF ALL OPEN DUMPS IS
TO BE PUBLISHED WITHIN THE 12 MONTHS THAT FOLLOW, THE ACT
MANDATES THAT ALL OPEN DUMPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY MUST BE
CLOSED OR UPGRADED BY 1983 AND FORBIDS THE CREATION OF NEW
DUMPS, SPECIAL GRANT ASSISTANCE TO HELP MEET THESE NEW
REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL FACILITIES IS AUTHORIZED FOR
RURAL COMMUNITIES,
GRANTS TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF "SPECIAL COMMUNITIES" ARE
ALSO AUTHORIZED, THESE ARE TO BE COMMUNITIES OF LESS THAN
25,000 POPULATION, MOST OF WHOSE SOLID WASTE COMES FROM
OUTSIDE THEIR BOUNDARIES, CAUSING SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS,
AT THIS TIME, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE SUBTITLE D
PROVISIONS RELATED TO STATE AND LOCAL PLANNING ARE AT
VARIOUS STAGES, THE GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF REGIONS
WERE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON MAY 16, AND WE ARE
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CONSULTING WITH THE STATES ON THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE
GUIDELINES, THE GUIDELINES ON STATE PLANS ARE IN THE EARLY
DRAFING-STAGE,'
A-PRELIMINARY VERSION HAS BEEN. DRAFTED OF THE CRITERIA
FOR DETERMINING WHICH LAND DISPOSAL SITES ARE SANITARY
LANDFILLS AND WHICH ARE OPEN DUMPS, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED
COPIES TO ALL THE STATE SOLID WASTE AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PUBLIC INTEREST, ENVIRONMENTAL
AND HEALTH GROUPS, REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY, AND SOME 100
TECHNICAL EXPERTS, THROUGH THEIR .REVIEW COMMENTS AND THROUGH
PUBLIC MEETINGS WE HOPE TO BE THOROUGHLY EXPOSED TO THE
FACTS AND OPINIONS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN REACHING
DECISIONS ON THIS KEY ISSUE,
IN PREPARATION FOR THE OPEN DUMP INVENTORY, WHICH WILL
BE KEYED TO THE LAND DISPOSAL CRITERIA, WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE CENSUS BUREAU ON A QUESTIONNAIRE AND CONSULTING WITH THE
STATES, CURRENT PLANS CALL FOR STATES TO CONDUCT THE INVENTORY
AND NOTIFY EPA OF ALL OPEN DUMPS; THE CONSOLIDATED LIST WILL
THEN BE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. .
DRAFT REGULATIONS ON THE GRANTS TO BE MADE UNDER RCRA
HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE -STATES AND OTHER
INTERESTED GROUPS, A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT
WILL BE HELD IN WASHINGTON ON JUNE 30,.
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THE AUTHORIZATION IN RCRA FOR GRANTS TO STATES IN
FISCAL 1978 FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE REGULATION IS $25 MILLION;
FOR THE VARIOUS GRANTS TO STATES AND LOCALITIES FOR DEVELOPING
AND IMPLEMENTING STATE SOLID WASTE PLANS UNDER SUBTITLE D,
THE AUTHORIZATIONS AMOUNT TO $97,5 MILLION, ACTUAL APPROPRIA-
TIONS WILL BE MUCH LESS, WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET REQUEST FOR
GRANTS TO STATES TOTALLING $12 MILLION FOR FY 1978,
THE ACT ALSO PROVIDES FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS,
CALLED "RESOURCE RECOVERY AND CONSERVATION PANELS/' WHICH
WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON
REQUEST, THE TEAMS, WHICH CAN INCLUDE EXPERTS FROM STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND INDUSTRY
AS WELL AS FEDERAL PERSONNEL, WILL BE PREPARED TO ASSIST IN
UPGRADING COLLECTION, DISPOSAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT,
AS. WELL AS IN DEVELOPING RESOURCE RECOVERY AND RESOURCE
CONSERVATION SYSTEMS, WE ARE. NOW DEVELOPING PLANS FOR THIS
PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE INITIATED IN FISCAL '78,
' SECTION 1008 OF THE LAW REQUIRES EPA TO DEVELOP SUGGESTED
GUIDELINES ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WITH EMPHASIS
ON METHODS FOR PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY, WE HAVE BEGUN DRAFING GUIDELINES UNDER THIS
PROVISION ON LAND DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE AND ON
LAND DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE,
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RCRA INCLUDES WIDE AUTHORITY FOR RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS,
AND STUDIES IN SUPPORT OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT, ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE IS A LARGE-SCALE TWO-YEAR STUDY
OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION POLICIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY A
CABINET-LEVEL COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE EPA ADMINISTRATOR,
THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE WILL EXAMINE THE EFFECTS
OF CURRENT PUBLIC POLICIES ON RESOURCE USE AND THE CONSEQUENCES
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY, AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS
OF PROPOSED MEASURES, PARTICULARLY THE IMPOSITION OF DISPOSAL
CHARGES ON PRODUCTS, THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
TO BE REPORTED PERIODICALLY TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS,
THE FIRST REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, DESCRIBING THE PLAN OF
STUDY, WAS SUBMITTED JUNE 10,
UNLIKE SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTS, RCRA WAS NOT
DEVELOPED UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT SCIENCE CAN MAGICALLY
PRODUCE A QUICK HIGH-TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM OR
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALONE CAN WORK OUT THE MEANS OF
APPLYING THE SOLUTION, MOREOVER, EVEN THOUGH IT ENCOURAGES
SERIOUS AND FAR-RANGING CHANGES IN THE WAY WE DEAL WITH
SOLID WASTE, THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS THAT IT AUTHORIZES
IS MODEST, AND AS I HAVE SUGGESTED, APPROPRIATED FUNDS ARE
LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERABLY LESS,
IN VIEW OF THE NATURE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE. ISSUES THE
ACT ADDRESSES, THE VOLUNTARY CHANGES IN INSTITUTIONAL AND
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PERSONAL HABITS AND ATTITUDES IT IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE,
AND THE DIFFICULT DIRECT AND INDIRECT REGULATORY ACTIONS IT
PRESCRIBES, ITS SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION DEPENDS ON A HIGH
LEVEL OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND PARTICIPATION,
THE ACT CONTAINS, FORTUNATELY, AN UNUSUALLY COMPLETE
ARRAY OF PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PARTICIPATION,'
IN SECTION 8003, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF EPA IS REQUIRED TO
DEVELOP INFORMATION ON NINE KEY ELEMENTS WHICH ARE CRUCIAL
TO THE ACT'S PURPOSES, RAPIDLY DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION,
AND IMPLEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE CITIZEN
UNDERSTANDING,
SECTION 7004(B) CALLS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THATJS MANDATED BY THE ACT AND REQUIRES
EPA, IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATES, TO DEVELOP MINIMUM
GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL AND STATE
PROGRAMS,
^ THESE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN DRAFTED AND A PUBLIC, MEETING
WILL BE HELD ON JULY 1 IN WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS THEM, THE
DRAFT GUIDELINES REQUIRE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISION-
.MAKING PROCESS THROUGH VARIOUS TYPES OF MEETINGS, THROUGH
ADVISORY AND REVIEW GROUPS, AND THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
THAT WOULD ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO BECOME AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION UPON WHICH MUCH OF THE DECISION-
MAKING HINGES,
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AS I HAVE INDICATED IN DESCRIBING OUR PROGRESS IN
IMPLEMENTING THE ACL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS ALREADY A
VITAL PART OF THE PROCESS, WE ARE HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS,
HEARINGS, AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, SCHEDULED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNFOLDING OF THE ACT'S KEY PROVISIONS,
BY THE END OF THE YEAR, OVER 120 MEETINGS WILL HAVE BEEN
HELD TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING ONE OR MORE ASPECTS OF
RCRA IMPLEMENTATION, I HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU ARE ALREADY
PARTICIPATING IN THESE MEETINGS AND THAT MORE OF YOU WILL
CONSIDER DOING SO, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE ISSUES
IN HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTROL AND LAND DISPOSAL METHODS, THE
REPRESENTATION OF THE HEALTH FIELDS SHOULD BE STRONG,
AS I NOTED EARLIER, IN RCRA AND OTHER RECENT LEGISLATION
THE CONGRESS IS REFLECTING A NEW DIMINSION IN PUBLIC UNDER-
STANDING OF WHAT IS REALLY REQUIRED TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT,
THIS NEW AWARENESS WAS ALSO REFLECTED IN THE PRESIDENT'S
RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE, WHICH ENCOMPASSED NOT ONLY
TRADITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS BUT ALSO OCCUPATIONAL.
SAFETY AND HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OF THE. URBAN
POOR,
THIS WIDER AWARENESS ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC MAKES
IT CLEAR THAT SOLID WASTE, WHICH HAS BEEN SEEN TOO OFEN IN
THE PAST AS A PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS
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DIRECTOR ALONE, IS INSTEAD A MATTER OF DEEP CONCERN FOR
ENVIRONMENTALISTS. PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS, ECONOMISTS,
AND FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THIS REALIZATION PARALLELS
THAT WHICH WAS OCCURRING IN AIR POLLUTION 20 YEARS AGO, AT
THE FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AIR POLLUTION IN 1958, THE
SURGEON GENERAL OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, LEROY BURNEY,
DESCRIBED THE DAWNING REALIZATION OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
PROBLEM BEFORE THEM, HE ENDED HIS ADDRESS WITH A STATEMENT
THAT SEEMS SO PERTINENT TO THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT TODAY THAT I SHALL CLOSE BY QUOTING IT, HE
SAID:
THE PROBLEMS THAT COME AS BYPRODUCTS OF OUR ALMOST
UNBELIEVABLE MATERIAL PROGRESS DEMAND EVERYBODY'S
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, MORE THAN THAT, THEY DEMAND
GENUINE COOPERATION, WE CAN NO LONGER ASK, WHO'S
GOING TO BE IN CHARGE? OR WHO'S GOING TO GET THE
CREDIT? WE MUST ASK: HOW CAN WE MOST EFFECTIVELY
WORK TOGETHER?
UCT1519
SW-628
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