Hazardous Waste: Information on How DOD and Federal and State Regulators Oversee the Off-Site Disposal of Waste from DOD Installations

Abstract

DOD primarily relies on private contractors to handle the off-site disposal of hazardous waste generated by its installations. While DOD has procedures aimed at ensuring that its contractors select appropriate transporters and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities for the waste generated at installations, it relies on federal and state environmental regulators to ensure that this hazardous waste is disposed of properly. The procedures that DOD follows regarding the disposal of hazardous waste are dependent on whether the waste was generated from routine operations or is from an environmental cleanup. Specifically. To dispose of hazardous waste generated during routine operations, DOD's preferred process is for installations to rely on DRMS. To arrange for the removal and disposal of hazardous waste from installations, DRMS awards regional contracts to private firms who manage the disposal process and requires these contractors to use hazardous waste transporters and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities that have been approved by DRMS. To be approved by DRMS, transporters and facilities must meet certain criteria, such as having current environmental permits and a history of compliance with environmental laws, such as RCRA. DRMS reviews a limited number of approved hazardous waste transporters and facilities annually to ensure that they still meet the agency s criteria. Alternately, installation commanders can choose to obtain disposal contractors on their own, instead of using DRMS contractors. However, commanders must first obtain approval from their chain of command and must follow processes similar to DRMS to ensure that they are complying with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA474023

Entities

People

  • Alison O'neill
  • Anu K. Mittal
  • Edward Zadjura
  • Jay Spaan
  • Kirk Menard
  • Leigh White
  • Peter Singer
  • Richard Johnson

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Environmental Restoration And Remediation
  • Governments
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Health
  • Law
  • Materials
  • Natural Resources
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Waste Disposal Facilities
  • Waste Management

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Environmental Remediation and Restoration.
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Technology.