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If you would like to help keep our hazardous waste rules
strong and our groundwater and land protected from toxics, write a letter to
EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt opposing the Proposed New Definition of Solid
Waste.
Please address your letter to:
The Honorable Michael Leavitt
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC.
To submit your letter, email it EPA at the address rcra-docket@epamail.epa.gov.
In the subject line write: Docket ID No. RCRA-2002-0031
Below our some points you may want to make in your letter:
- EPA is proposing to change the definition of solid waste.
The change will deregulate federal controls over 1,500,000 tons of hazardous
toxic wastes generated at nearly 1,750 facilities around the country.
- I oppose this unnecessary weakening of the nation’s
hazardous waste laws
- Reducing the environmental controls on the transportation,
handling, storage, and training of people involved in the recovery of toxic
wastes is dangerous to the environment. EPA should at least analyze the
impact of these changes on public health and the environment.
- The recovery and reclamation of hazardous wastes, if not
done carefully, threatens our valuable land and groundwater. This issue
is not landfilling versus recycling. Most of these “recyclables” are
liquids that are banned from landfilling. The choice is between regulated
recycling and unregulated recycling.
- The federal solid waste law has been successful in significantly
reducing the “midnight dumping” and dangerous resource recovery methods
that have led to numerous Superfund sites and expensive state cleanups of
contaminated land and groundwater. By eliminating the “cradle-to-grave” tracking
of this toxic waste as EPA proposes, EPA is creating a major loophole and
threat to environmental protection.
- The Agency should consider the possible costs to state and
federal taxpayers of this proposal. Unlike the present regulated
recyclers, these unregulated recyclers and reclaimers will not be required
to post insurance
- EPA based its new interpretation of the definition of solid
waste on federal court decisions. The Agency responsible for
environmental protection, should read the cases narrowly and consistent
with the aims of the law to protect public health and the environment.
Want your Representative or Senator to know of your concerns
about this rule?
Send a copy of your comments to them. The best way to reach
them is also through email. Check out their email addresses at www.senate.gov
and www.house.gov
If you have any questions, or would like to share your
comments with us, please contact us.
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