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Contaminated Lands Environmental Action Network (CLEAN)

Hazardous Waste Remediation Guidance

The requirements for remediation and redevelopment of sites contaminated with hazardous waste can be complicated and confusing. The federal hazardous waste program began in 1976 with the promulgation of Subtitle C of RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act). EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) developed specific rules to implement these provisions which became effective in November, 1980. The fact that these hazardous waste rules would also govern environmental cleanups was not considered when they were originally written. As a result, EPA has subsequently issued several major rules along with numerous policy memos and guidance documents clarifying the applicability of the hazardous waste rules to cleanup situations. These documents have provided for a more flexible approach to help ensure that contaminated sites are investigated and remediated in a timely manner.

DNR has taken the information from these and other sources and developed a comprehensive guidance entitled: "Guidance for Hazardous Waste Remediation". This document provides direction to DNR staff, responsible parties, and other interested individuals on the requirements that apply and the options that are available when dealing with cleanup and redevelopment issues at sites that are or may be contaminated with hazardous waste. This document contains links to numerous other EPA documents and related correspondence that provides additional details on related topics.

These background materials on federal regulations are also available as links within the guidance:

The following documents are no longer linked to the guidance, but are provided here for informational and historical purposes:

For More Information

For general information about environmental cleanup where hazardous wastes may be present , please contact Mark Gordon. For site specific questions about hazardous waste cleanups, please contact the appropriate staff person - County Contacts [PDF, 36KB]

Last Revised: Thursday September 11 2008