Attorneys Warn Waste Definition Rule May Spur Broader RCRA Cleanups

Industry attorneys are warning that EPA’s newly proposed “hazardous waste” definition rule could have a broader impact than the agency is suggesting, opening the door to requiring investigation and cleanup of PFAS and other emerging contaminants under existing corrective action permits at waste facilities even though the contaminants do not fall under any regulatory definition of “hazardous waste.” In addition, attorneys suggest that a companion proposed rule to list nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as “hazardous constituents” under the...