Abstract |
Mixed waste is subject to a dual regulatory framework under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), as administered by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Generators of mixed waste and the offsite facilities which manage this waste must satisfy both NRC, which regulates the radioactive component, and EPA, which regulates the hazardous component. Due to the complex regulatory framework and the lack of approved treatment and disposal options for these wastes, mixed waste management is a difficult responsibility. The principal focus of this report is to identify and examine the wide spectrum of waste management options and technologies applicable to EPA research facilities including pollution prevention, recycling, waste segregation, and treatment. Ultimately, this report is designed to aid EPA in defining future guidance for these laboratories. Relevant information from the technical literature is presented in this report as a guide for future EPA decisions concerning laboratory generated low-level and mixed waste. |