Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Amendments of 1979

Summary

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Amendments of 1979 - Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the Solid Waste Disposal Act for fiscal year 1980. Amends such Act to authorize the Administrator to establish separate standards for new and existing hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Excludes drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production from the provisions of such Act. Grants interim permit status to any person owning or operating a hazardous waste facility in existence on the effective date of applicable regulations under such Act. Expands the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to request information or examine the records of a person handling solid waste. Amends the criminal penalty provisions of such Act to impose such penalties on any person who handles hazardous wastes and: (1) fails to comply with the requirements of the hazardous waste site inventory to be conducted under this Act; or (2) destroys, alters, or conceals records maintained in connection with such handling of hazardous waste. Removes the notification requirement and the 30 day grace period for violators of any requirement of such Act. Amends the scope of the program of grants to States for State hazardous waste programs to include grants for the development and execution of programs to protect health and the environment from inactive hazardous waste facilities. Directs each States to undertake a continuing program to compile, publish, and submit to the Administrator an inventory of hazardous waste storage and disposal sites, including their location, and the amount, nature, and toxicity of the hazardous waste at each such site. Authorizes the Administrator to undertake such an inventory program in any State which fails to adequately provide such information. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States for the purposes of carrying out such a program. Provides that both States and local governments may enter into long-term contracts for the operation of hazardous waste disposal facilities or for securing long-term markets for material and energy recovered from such facilities. Prohibits open dumping of solid waste or hazardous waste after promulgation of criteria defining this practice. Requires each Federal procuring agency, to procure products composed of the highest percentage of recovered materials practicable, consistent with maintaining competition, pursuant to guidelines to be promulgated by the Administrator for the use of such agencies. Directs contracting officers to require vendors to certify adherence to contract specifications and requirements with respect to the percentage of recovered materials to be used in performance of the contract and to estimate the percentage of the total material utilized for such performance which is recovered material. Extends the deadline for changing procurement specifications to allow use of recovered materials from 18 months to five years. Requires that such specifications include the use of recovered materials to the maximum extent possible without jeopardizing the intended end use of a procured item. Modifies the components of the procurement guidelines to be issued by the Administrator for the use of procuring agencies in complying with the requirements of such Act. Modifies the authority of the Administrator to handle any imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment which may be caused by the handling, storage, treatment, or transportation of solid waste or hazardous waste by authorizing the issuance of administrative orders as well the commencement of civil actions. Imposes a fine of up to $5,000 for each day of noncompliance with such an order. Modifies the judicial review provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to permit review of the Administrator's action: (1) in issuing, denying, modifying, or revoking any treatment, storage, or disposal permit; and (2) in granting, denying, or withdrawing authorization of State hazardous waste programs. Directs the Administrator to prepare and submit to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and to the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce a Study on: (1) the adverse health and environmental effects, if any of drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, or production; and (2) the adequacy of existing regulatory programs related thereto. Requires the Administrator to prepare a plan for research, development and demonstration respecting the findings of such study and to submit appropriate recommendations. Repeals the provisions of the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act of 1976 concerning solid waste cleanup on Federal lands in Alaska and the Llangollen Landfill, Delaware, leachate control research and assistance program.

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Documents

3 official files

• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 20 February 1980

  Open at official source

• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 15 May 1979

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 8 May 1979

  Open at official source

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