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EPA Plans to Recognize Revisions in the Hazardous Waste Program in Delaware

Release Date: 2/27/2002
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to authorize revisions to Delaware's hazardous waste program.

Since 1984, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has administered an EPA-authorized hazardous waste program in Delaware. Once authorized, DNREC operated the hazardous waste program in lieu of a federal program. Then, periodically, authorized programs across the country are revised to incorporate new regulations.

EPA’s action is in accordance with the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that grants states primary responsibility for implementing hazardous waste regulations because states are in a better position to respond to local needs. EPA’s authorization also eliminates any duplication of effort between the state’s and the federal hazardous waste programs.
Before EPA’s approval is effective, the public has 30 days to review and comment on Delaware’s application and EPA’s decision. The comment period begins today, Wednesday, Feb. 27 and will end March 29. If there are no adverse comments, EPA’s decision will automatically take effect in 60 days.

Anyone interested in viewing Delaware’s application can call the EPA’s regional library at (215) 814-5254 or Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control at (302) 739-3689.

The public may provide written comments on EPA’s decision to approve Delaware’s authorization application for hazardous waste management program revisions by sending written comments to: Lillie Ellerbe, Delaware state program manager, State Programs Branch (3WC21), U.S. EPA Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029.