Beyond Waste home > Navigate to a plan section > Hazardous Waste System Issues, Permitting/Corrective Action-Introduction

Introduction

Permitting/Corrective Action

Through permits, technical assistance and monitoring of compliance with the regulations at active waste management facilities, the goal of preventing releases of dangerous waste to the air, soil, and groundwater is being met. Also, of the 116 corrective action sites in the state of Washington, only 33 are medium or high priority sites. Ecology expects to complete the corrective action process at all 19 of the high priority sites by 2011, and the 14 medium priority sites are expected to complete the process by 2032.

Hazardous waste permits do not always cover all types of wastes received or waste handling processes employed at a facility. Also, hazardous waste permits contain financial requirements for TSD facilities including coverage for pollution liability and facility closure, but they often fall short of covering the full cost of closure. Further complicating matters, the financial mechanisms often used by TSDs require the owner/operator to be present at closure (which is not always the case), and these mechanisms can be so complex that it is difficult to successfully file and collect claims.

An additional concern is the limited ability to address potential environmental threats at recycling facilities and used oil processors because these facilities are not required to obtain a hazardous waste management permit.

<-- Back              Next -->