When it comes to disposing of hazardous waste from land clearing projects, there are a number of regulations that must be followed. It is important to check with your state's environmental agency for the most up-to-date regulations, as most states are authorized to implement federal regulations on hazardous waste. In 1984, Congress created the Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) Program as part of the Solid and Hazardous Waste (HSWA) amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This program prohibits the land-based disposal of untreated hazardous waste and requires that specific waste treatment standards be met before it can be disposed of on land.
To ensure compliance with the LDR, waste handlers must prepare, submit and maintain records at their facilities to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the LDR and track waste from generation to disposal on land. This helps to reduce the possibility of leaching hazardous components and by reducing waste toxicity by destroying or eliminating harmful components. The Unified Agenda for Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda) reports on the measures that administrative agencies plan to adopt in the short and long term. This includes, but is not limited to, placement in a landfill, a surface reservoir, a waste pile, an injection well, a land treatment facility, the formation of a salt dome, a formation of a salt bed, an underground mine or cave, or placement in a concrete vault or bunker intended for disposal.
