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EPA Proposes Global Hazardous Waste Shipment Regulations [US]
- #Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The proposed rule
On September 24th, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations affecting international shipments of hazardous waste.
The proposed rule would consolidate hazardous waste regulations and create one set of requirements for all international shipments. The rule would also impose new reporting requirements for imports and exports of hazardous waste.
Requirements of the proposed rule
The EPA has announced the new regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), consolidating various hazardous waste regulations as well as requiring entities involved in such shipments to electronically submit data to the EPA. Furthermore, exporters of hazardous waste must link the consent to export form with the exporter declaration submitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and file all this information with the EPA.
Current statistics in the U.S.
Approximately 3,000 imports and 49,000 exports of hazardous waste occur within the United States annually.
When hazardous waste crosses international borders, there is a higher risk of improper management, transport, or disposal. The agency advocates that the new regulations will improve data collection and compliance monitoring regarding the import and export of hazardous waste.
The EPA will accept public comments on the proposed hazardous waste import-export rules for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.Red-on-line EHS Legalist
Sources:
Additional information on the hazardous waste export-import rule is available at: http://www2.epa.gov/hwgenerators/proposed-rule-hazardous-waste-export-import-revisions
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