Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities require operating permits issued by:

• A. The EPA
• B. The State
• C. Either the EPA or the State
• D. Municipal authority

Answer: (C)

Permits for Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities come from the agency that oversees the hazardous waste program, which in practice means either the EPA or the state, depending on whether the state has an authorized RCRA program. Under RCRA Subtitle C, the federal government sets minimum standards, but states can administer and issue permits if they have received EPA authorization. In those authorized states, the state environmental agency issues and enforces the operating permits for TSDFs. In states without authorization, the EPA steps in to issue the permits and oversee compliance. Municipal authorities don’t issue these permits. So, the correct understanding is that either the EPA or the State can issue the permit, based on the state’s authorization status.