Cleanup Enforcement

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.

RCRA Subtitle C provides a system for managing hazardous waste from the time it is generated until its ultimate disposal. Facilities that generate, transport, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste are regulated under RCRA Subtitle C.

RCRA protects human health and the environment in two ways: Prevention and Corrective Action.

1. Prevention. Preventing future environmental problems from being caused by waste.
2. Corrective Action. Cleaning up current environmental problems caused by the mismanagement of waste.

RCRA Corrective Action:

• Usually takes place at facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste;
• Can be required through a RCRA order or permit; and
• Can take place while a facility continues operating.
• Corrective action may be required through a RCRA permit, voluntary agreement, order, or administrative or judicial action.

In April 2010, EPA announced the National Enforcement Strategy for RCRA Corrective Action (NESCA). NESCA will help EPA have final cleanup remedies in place at 95% of the 3,747 facilities currently believed to need corrective action, by 2020.

Information on the 2020 Corrective Action universe of facilities is available on EPA's facility information webpage.

To learn more about the RCRA Corrective Action program, visit EPA's Corrective Action website.