United Stales EPA530-F-92-004
Environmental Protection April 1992
Agency
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OS-305)
&EPA RCRA
SUPERFUND
OUST
HOTLINE
II -i8" "888" " "881"
Printed on Recycled Paper
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OUR PURPOSE
The RCRA/Superfund/OUST
Hotline provides quick response
to regulatory and related
questions concerning waste
management and disposal. The
regulations developed under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and
the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or
Superfund) create a complex array of require-
ments with legal, financial, and environmental
consequences. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) established the Hotline to
respond to inquiries from the public and the
regulated community arising from these
regulations.
The Information Specialists that staff the
Hotline are experienced and specially trained
in all the varied components of the waste
regulatory programs. The Hotline answers
factual questions on EPA regulations,
disseminates information on current develop-
ments and changes, and responds to requests
for relevant documents. For example, the
Hotline responds to inquiries concerning:
Q Corrective action
Q Enforcement policies
a Hazardous waste generators and
transporters
Q Land disposal restrictions
Q Recycling and waste minimization
O Solid waste landfill criteria
Q State authorization
Q The National Contingency Plan
Q The National Priorities List and CERCLIS
Q Treatment, storage and disposal facilities
Q Underground storage tanks (USTs)
a Used oil
Q Waste import and export.
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REGULATIONS
The Hotline's central function is
responding to questions of a tech-
nical or regulatory nature. We
provide answers that are supported
by the Federal regulations,
language in Federal Register preambles,
written Agency policy directives, and guidance
documents. The Hotline answers questions
concerning the following program areas.
Q RCRA
RCRA, which amended the Solid Waste
Disposal Act and was amended by the
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
(HSWA) in 1984, has produced a large body
of regulations addressing solid and hazardous
waste management and disposal. Questions
from the regulated community concerning
regulatory determinations are the most
frequent source of Hotline calls.
O SUPERFUND
CERCLA, or Superfund, facilitates the cleanup
of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The
regulations promulgated under the statute
provide procedures for discovery, investigation,
assessment, removal, and remediation at
these sites.
Q UNDERGROUND STORAGE
TANKS
Underground storage tank regulations were
promulgated pursuant to HSWA under RCRA,
but comprise a separate regulatory program
area because of their scope and separate
purpose. Regulating USTs containing
petroleum products and hazardous substances,
the program covers installation, release
detection, corrective action, closure, financial
responsibility, and other concerns.
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DOCUMENTS
The Hotline maintains up-
to-date information on the
availability and distribution
of documents and published
materials relating to Hotline
program areas. Because requests for doc-
uments account for a substantial percentage
of calls received, an improved automated
selection system now gives callers the
option to choose a document line or reg-
ulatory information line. Callers requesting
publications are routed directly to Document
Specialists. Document requests outside
the Hotline's scope are referred to the
appropriate source.
RKFKRRALS
RCRA/Superfund/OUST Hotline
Information Specialists work
hard to answer every question
received, accessing a vast
array of resources. Some calls,
however, are beyond the scope of the
Hotline's services. Questions requiring inter-
pretation of the Federal regulations, legal
analysis, or involving highly technical or
unresolved issues are referred to the
appropriate EPA office. Federal or State
agency, or other sources.
The RCRA/Superfund/OUST Hotline
operates under Contract No. 68-WO-0039.
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USING THE HOTLINE
Anyone can call the Hotline --
we offer guidance and
information to a broad audi-
ence including manufacturers,
consulting firms, trade
associations, law firms, health
professionals, and other
callers with diverse environmental
backgrounds and varying degrees of
regulatory knowledge. The Hotline also
assists concerned citizens and interest
groups by providing information, locating
resources, and distributing documents.
State and local government officials as
well as employees of other Federal
agencies use the Hotline as a valuable
resource for up-to-date regulatory
information. You can reach the RCRA/
Superfund/OUST Hotline by calling the
numbers listed below
RCRA/Superfund/OUST
Hotline
(800) 424-9346
TDD (800) 553-7672
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. EST
Closed Federal Holidays
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