Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

Summary

Solid Waste Utilization Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, under provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, to provide financial assistance to each State to: (1) assist such State in developing a State solid waste management plan, (2) assist such State in administering a program for solid waste management, including programs to provide technical assistance and management advice to municipalities and intermunicipal agencies, and (3) develop, implement, operate, and enforce a State program for the control of hazardous waste disposal. Conditions such assistance upon the development of a State solid waste management plan consistent with the purposes of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Requires the Administrator to develop within one year and publish suggested guidelines for solid waste management which will provide for the protection of public health and the environment. Directs the Administrator to implement a program for the rapid dissemination of information on solid waste management and methods of energy and resource recovery from solid waste, including the results of any relevant research, investigations, experiments, surveys, studies, or other information which may be useful in the implementation of new or improved solid waste management practices and methods. Provides that within one year after the guidelines are published open dumping shall be prohibited. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring that any person who disposes of, treats, or stores any designated hazardous waste shall obtain a permit for such disposal, treatment, or storage. Sets forth conditions governing the receipt of such permits. Permits States to develop programs for the control of hazardous waste disposal comparable to that established under this Act. Directs the Administrator to authorize each State to issue and enforce permits for the disposal, treatment, or storage of hazardous wastes in accordance with this Act, unless he finds that such State program does not comply with the purposes of this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to bring suit on behalf of the United States in the appropriate district court to restrain any person causing any disposal of solid waste which presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to the health of persons or other living organisms. States that violations may be punished by a fine of up to $25,000 per day of violation. Permits citizen suits to enforce the provisions of this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee loans made for the purpose of financing a resource recovery system for mixed municipal solid wastes or any component thereof necessary to the creation of such system, including the construction or modification of facilities or acquisition of equipment necessary for the utilization of recovered resources or energy produced by such system. Sets forth conditions governing such loan guarantees. Directs the Administrator to make grants to States to provide assistance to municipalities with a population of 5,000 or less, or counties with a population of 10,000 or less, for solid waste management facilities and equipment necessary to meet the requirements of this Act. Requires Federal agencies to give preference to the purchase of goods, material and energy comprised of recovered resources. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants and loans to States and other governmental entities for the purchase of, or development of land and facilities for industrial or commercial usage where the industry to be located in such land or facilities utilizes recovered resources or energy from such system or otherwise provides a market for such recovered resources or energy. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for such purposes of up to $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1976, 1977, and 1978, and $5,000,000 for the fiscal transitional period ending September 30, 1976. Prohibits discrimination by employers against employees who institute judicial proceedings under the provisions of this Act. Permits the Administrator to enter into contracts with municipalities who so request pursuant to which available Federal lands suitable for disposal purposes may be made available to such municipalities to meet the requirements of this Act, provided appropriate non-Federal lands are not available to such municipalities. Defines terms used in this Act. Makes technical and conforming changes to the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Authorizes specified appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.

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Documents

3 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 22 October 1976

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 27 September 1976

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 21 July 1975

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