Hazardous Materials HAZ-MAT Laws and Regulations
Federal Regulations of the Hazardous Materials HAZ-MAT Industry
U.S Environmental Protection Agency
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Under the RCRA, the U.S. EPA has divided Hazardous Waste into two categories:
- Listed Wastes, which appear on one of the four hazardous wastes lists established by EPA regulations:
- The F-list (non-specific source wastes), which can be found in the regulations at 40 CFR §261.31.
- The K-list (source-specific wastes), which can be found in the regulations at 40 CFR §261.32.
- The P-list and the U-list (discarded commercial chemical products), which can be found in the regulations at 40 CFR §261.33.
- Characteristic wastes, which exhibit one or more of four characteristics defined in 40 CFR Part 261 Subpart C:
- Ignitability, as described in 40 CFR §261.21.
- Corrosivity, as described in 40 CFR §261.22.
- Reactivity, as described in 40 CFR §261.23.
- Toxicity, as described in 40 CFR §261.24.
The U.S. EPA, responsible for creating requirements that can be used to implement and enforce the RCRA ruling, have made Hazardous Materials regulations which are available through 40 CFR Part 260. These sections explain the regulations for hazardous waste identification, classification, generation, management and disposal.
- Part 260 – Hazardous Waste Management System: General
- Part 261 – Identification And Listing Of Hazardous Waste
- Part 262 – Standards Applicable To Generators Of Hazardous Waste
- Part 263 – Standards Applicable To Transporters Of Hazardous Waste
- Part 264 – Standards For Owners And Operators Of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, And Disposal Facilities
- Part 265 – Interim Status Standards For Owners And Operators Of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, And Disposal Facilities
- Part 266 – Standards For The Management Of Specific Hazardous Wastes And Specific Types Of Hazardous Waste Management Facilities
- Part 267 – Standards For Owners And Operators Of Hazardous Waste Facilities Operating Under A Standardized Permit
- Part 268 – Land Disposal Restrictions
- Part 270 – EPA Administered Permit Programs: The Hazardous Waste Permit Program
- Part 271 – Requirements For Authorization Of State Hazardous Waste Programs
- Part 272 – Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs
- Part 273 – Standards For Universal Waste Management
- Part 279 – Standards For The Management Of Used Oil
- Part 280 – Technical Standards And Corrective Action Requirements For Owners And Operators Of Underground Storage Tanks (UST)
- Part 281 – Approval Of State Underground Storage Tank Programs
- Part 282 – Approved Underground Storage Tank Programs
- Parts 283 to 299 [Reserved]
The U.S. EPA Hazardous Wastes Quick Finder
This online resource provided by the U.S. EPA gives detailed information for Hazardous Waste, how it is classified, and the regulations that govern different types of waste. Within this link there is a definition for solid waste (DSW), types of hazardous waste, how hazardous waste is generated, regulations for the transportation, treatment storage and disposal (TSD) of HAZ-MAT. Also included are information on waste minimization, hazardous waste recycling, corrective action, testing methods, and laws governing international waste.
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
1910 Subpart E, Exit routes, emergency action plans, and fire prevention plans [related topic page]
1910.38, Emergency action plans
1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]
1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
Appendix A, Personal protective equipment test methods
Appendix B, General description and discussion of the levels of protective gear
Appendix C, Compliance guidelines
Appendix D, References
Appendix E, Training curriculum guidelines (Non-mandatory)
1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment [related topic page]
1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
1910.141, Sanitation
1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces [related topic page]
Appendix A, Permit-required confined spaces decision flow chart
Appendix B, Procedures for atmospheric testing
Appendix C, Examples of permit-required confined spaces programs
Appendix D, Confined space pre-entry check list
Appendix E, Sewer system entry
1910 Subpart L, Fire protection [related topic page]
1910.165, Employee alarm systems
1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)
1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
1926.65, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
Appendix A, Personal protective equipment test methods
Appendix B, General description and discussion of the levels of protective gear
Appendix C, Compliance guidelines
Appendix D, References
Appendix E, Training curriculum guidelines (Non-mandatory)
Preambles to Final Rules
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (1990)
Search all available preambles to final rules.
Federal Registers
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. Final Rules 59:43268-43280 (1994, August 22).
Search all available Federal Registers.
Directives
Inspection Procedures for 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65, Paragraph (q): Emergency Response to Hazardous Substance Releases. CPL 02-02-073, (2007, August 27). Also available as a 444 KB PDF, 119 pages. Updates enforcement procedures for compliance officers who need to conduct inspections of emergency response operations. It defines additional terms and expands on training requirements for emergency responders and other groups such as skilled support personnel. This OSHA instruction revises CPL 02-02-059, issued April 24, 1998.
Technical Enforcement and Assistance Guidelines for Hazardous Waste Site and RCRA Corrective Action Clean-up Operations HAZWOPER 1910.120 (b)-(o) Directive. CPL 02-02-071, (2003, November 5).
Compliance policy for emergency action plans and fire prevention plans. CPL 02-01-037 [CPL 2-1.037], (2002, July 9). Clarifies several Regional Instructions regarding 29 CFR 1910.38. Change to OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.59A, Inspection Procedures for the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard, Appendix F, page F-3, rescind citation policy of 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(1), April 24, 1998. Rescinds Clarifications of Interpretations and Citation Policy on 29 CFR 1910.38 and 1910.157 Standards, June 24, 1992.
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response; Final Rule and Corrections. CSP 01-01-024 [STP 2-1.154C], (1991, June 10). Describes a federal program change to the regions and state designees.
Search all available directives.
State Regulations of the Hazardous Materials HAZ-MAT Industry
New York State
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
In New York State, the DEC enforces the U.S. EPA’s federal Hazardous Waste laws and regulations under the RCRA. The NYSDEC is also responsible for permits, compliance inspections, corrective action, ground water protection, hazardous waste annual reports, assessments and fees, financial assurance and NYS’s Manifest Program. The NYSDEC manages the permitting, inspection and compliance of both hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs), as well as hazardous waste land disposal facility operating permits/post-closure permits.
New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
The NJDEP enforces the states NJ Solid Waste Management Act by managing the transportation, handling, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste through their Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Program.
NJ Solid Waste Management Act (N.J.S.A 7:26G-1 et seq.)
This link connect you to a downloadable .PDF file of the full text of the state legislation which governs hazardous waste.