![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Enforcement Division
| Director: | Rosemarie Kelley |
|---|---|
| Associate Director: | Van E. Housman (Acting) |
| Phone Number: | (202) 564-2270 |
| FAX | (202) 564-0022 |
Each year in the United States, millions of tons of hazardous waste are produced. These wastes are generated by a myriad of sources in the private and public sector. If managed improperly, hazardous wastes have the potential to cause significant harm to human health and the environment. The U.S. EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Enforcement Division (RCRA Enforcement Division or RED) has a major role in assuring that these wastes are properly managed.
To address the dangers hazardous wastes pose, the United States Congress enacted, in 1976, the Resource Conversation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA was the first of several amendments to the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965, which, along with the other amendments to this Act, have collectively become known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The statute established a national program to ensure that hazardous wastes are managed safely from the point of generation to the point of disposal. The U.S. EPA authorizes states that meet regulatory requirements to operate hazardous waste programs according to state laws and regulations. Through this partnership with the states, EPA continues to work to ensure that the generation of hazardous waste is reduced and that waste generated is managed in a manner that minimizes the threat to human health and the environment.
In addition to RCRA and its regulations, which include regulation of Underground Storage Tanks (USTs), the RCRA Enforcement Division (RED) has responsibility for enforcement other statutes and regulations relating to waste, such as the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act (Battery Act), with its two main goals being to phase out the use of mercury in batteries and to provide for the efficient and cost effective collection and recycling or proper disposal of used batteries; the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act, which is to protect the public and the environment exposure to hazardous chemicals. RCRA Enforcement Division provides coverage for the cross-statutory Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act (SBREFA), which assures that small businesses receive fair treatment in the enforcement process.
RCRA Enforcement Division has the following responsibilities:
- develops and directs the national hazardous waste enforcement program and its other related programs in a manner that protects the health of all residents of the country from unacceptable risks presented by hazardous wastes;
- seeks to assure the consistent, fair, and equitable treatment of the regulated community through policy and guidance development and implementation;
- serves as a national clearinghouse for legal and technical advice, information, and data (including training and outreach to the Regions, states, and tribes, and the public);
- undertakes the prosecution of national violators; advancing pressing national concerns through targeted enforcement actions; and
- has the responsibility for national administrative and judicial appellate litigation.
The determination of solid and hazardous waste regulatory requirements, based on the appropriate statute, is a responsibility of the Office of Solid Waste (OSW). RED's responsibilities relate to the enforcement of waste-related requirements (i.e., generation, management and handling, and disposal) for solid and hazardous waste and the facilities, whereas the requirements for cleanup of contaminated sites and facilities is under the purview of the Office of Site Remediation Enforcement (OSRE). When Federal Facilities are involved, these enforcement activities are handled by the Office of Federal Facilities Enforcement (FFEO). In addition, the Office of Compliance (OC) provides compliance assistance to facilities for meeting the regulatory requirements.
RED works closely with other Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) offices, EPA's Office of General Counsel (OGC), the Regional Offices, and the U.S. Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division 
also represents OECA on like matters with other federal agencies and external groups.
RED's management and staff is comprised of about eighteen attorney advisors, engineers and scientists, other technical specialists, and support personnel. Our interests, specialties, and assignments encompass all areas relating to hazardous waste management and regulation, and the enforcement activities related to these. We have involvement in a wide variety of projects and activities pursuant to RCRA and the other waste management related statutes and regulations.
Our offices are located in the Ariel Rios Building, near 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue adjacent to the Federal Triangle MetroRail Station, in downtown Washington, DC. Our mailing address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RCRA Enforcement Division (2246A), 1200 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20460.