What does a RCRA permit do?

A RCRA permit establishes requirements for properly managing hazardous waste. RCRA Permits are issued for any one or a combination of the following activities:

• Treatment- use processes to alter the character or composition of hazardous waste
• Storage- temporarily store hazardous waste until it is treated or disposed
• Disposal- permanently contain waste
• Corrective Action - cleanup of past contamination

What is the RCRA Corrective Action Process?

Establishes a framework for facilities (Commercial, DoD, etc.) to investigate and clean-up hazardous waste contamination. The facilities are required to clean up all affected media (soil, groundwater, surface water, and air). SCDES oversees all stages of the process.

RCRA Public Participation

The goal of Public Participation in RCRA is to involve the public early and often in the permitting process. This allows the public multiple opportunities to learn about the facility operations and to provide input both to SCDES and the facility. 

There are two types of public meetings held as part of the public participation process:

• Facility-led
• SCDES-led

Facility-led meetings

The RCRA regulations require the facility to hold a public meeting when:

• An application for a permit is submitted for a new facility
• A modification is requested for a current permit.

The Department is present at these meetings to help answer questions from the public and to hear public input prior to making a decision to issue a Permit.

SCDES-led meetings

SCDES holds public meeting or hearings, if requested, for draft permits issued for:

• A new permit
• Permit renewal
• Permit modification

Where to submit comments?

For both facility-led and SCDES-led public meetings, comments should be submitted to:

Kent Krieg
Division of Waste Management
Bureau of Land and Waste Management
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Kent.Krieg@des.sc.gov 
(803) 898-0255