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EPA ANNOUNCES REFORMS TO SPEED HAZARDOUS WASTE CLEANUP AT INDUSTRIAL SITES
Release Date: 01/11/2001
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JAN. 11, 2001
EPA ANNOUNCES REFORMS TO SPEED HAZARDOUS
WASTE CLEANUP AT INDUSTRIAL SITES
EPA Assistant Administrator Timothy Fields, Jr., announced a second round of reforms to ensure that human exposures and groundwater releases are under control at more than 1,700 industrial facilities across the country. First begun in 1999, these reforms will speed cleanup under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action program.
AThe 1999 RCRA Cleanup Reforms promote faster, focused, more flexible cleanups to meet aggressive goals at facilities managing hazardous waste. By fostering creative cleanup solutions, the 2001 reforms reinforce and build upon actions taken by EPA, the states, industry, and communities to meet these goals,@ said Fields.
The new reforms include: launching 25 pilot projects that focus on innovative approaches to cleanup; supporting culture changes in ways the program is implemented such as increasing interaction between EPA, states, industry and communities; involving communities by promoting technical assistance opportunities and publicizing information resources; and promoting RCRA brownfields redevelopment with additional pilot projects.
Today’s announcement takes place at a former refinery complex in Wood River, Illinois owned by BP Amoco. The facility is an example of how EPA, states, industry and communities can work together to speed cleanup and foster brownfields redevelopment under the RCRA Corrective Action program.
As part of the RCRA Cleanup Reforms program, EPA has set ambitious goals of protecting human health and groundwater quality under the RCRA Corrective Action program. To date, EPA has verified that 504 of the 1,714 priority facilities have met these goals For the latest information go to: https://www.epa.gov/correctiveaction/reforms.htm or call the RCRA hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672. For more information of EPA’s Brownfields Program go to: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
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