RCRA is the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted by Congress in 1976. RCRA's primary goals are to:

• Protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal;
• Conserve energy and natural resources;
• Reduce the amount of waste generated; and
• Ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.

RCRA is comprised of the following three interrelated programs:

• the Hazardous Waste Program (Subtitle C) which manages hazardous waste from the time it is generated until it is disposed (referred to as cradle to grave);
• the Solid Waste Program (Subtitle D) which sets criteria for municipal solid waste and other non-hazardous waste disposal facilities and prohibits open dumping of solid waste; and
• the Underground Storage Tank Program (Subtitle I) which regulates underground storage tanks storing petroleum or other hazardous substances.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages states to implement their own waste management programs and receive "primacy" over waste issues. To receive state primacy, states must develop statutes and regulations that are at least as stringent as the federal acts and regulations. Idaho has adopted statutes and rules governing management of certain aspects of hazardous and solid waste and underground storage tanks.

DEQ is the state agency delegated responsibility by EPA to implement RCRA in Idaho. With only a few exceptions, Idaho has incorporated RCRA by reference into the state's Rules and Standards for Hazardous Waste (pdf on Department of Administration Web site).

Businesses and other facilities are required to comply with the hazardous waste regulations prescribed in the state's Rules and Standards for Hazardous Waste.  First and foremost, a business must determine if any of the wastes it generates are hazardous.

If a business determines that it generates hazardous waste, the business must:

• identify the types of hazardous waste it generates,
• comply with storage quantity and time limit requirements,
• determine its own generator status based on amount of waste generated in a given month (this can change monthly), and
• appropriately treat or dispose of the waste (options are based on generator status).

DEQ ensures compliance by inspecting businesses that generate hazardous waste and, if necessary, taking enforcement action if a business is out of compliance with regulations. DEQ also assists businesses in complying with regulations through education and outreach.

Certain businesses and facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste, especially waste generated by others, are required to hold permits to do so.  DEQ issues and oversees these permits and ensures the facilities meet all applicable laws and that the facilities comply with permit conditions.

Hazardous Waste (on U.S. EPA Web site)

Hazardous Waste: Assistance for Businesses

Idaho's Hazardous Waste Management Act