OAR 340-100-0001: Purpose and Scope

(1) The Department of Environmental Quality finds that increasing quantities of hazardous waste are being generated in Oregon. That waste, without adequate safeguards, can create conditions that threaten public health and the environment. It is therefore in the public interest to establish a comprehensive program to provide for safely managing this waste. (2) The purpose of the management program in OAR chapter 340 divisions 100 to 110, 120, 124 and 142 is to control hazardous waste from the time of generation through transportation, storage, treatment and disposal. Toxics use reduction, hazardous waste reduction, hazardous waste minimization, beneficial use, recycling and treatment are preferred over land disposal. To this end, the Department intends to minimize the number of disposal sites and to tightly control their operation. (3) OAR chapter 340, divisions 100 to 106, 109, 111, 113, 120, 124 and 142 incorporate by reference, hazardous waste management regulations of the federal program, included in 40 C.F.R. Parts 260 to 268, 270, 273 and Subpart A and Subpart B of Part 124, into Oregon Administrative Rules. Therefore, a person must consult these parts of 40 C.F.R. in addition to OAR chapter 340, divisions 100 to 106, 109, 111, 113, 120, 124 and 142, to determine all applicable hazardous waste management requirements. (4) A secondary purpose of this program is to obtain EPA Final Authorization to manage hazardous waste in Oregon in lieu of the federal program.