Comment
The law on hazardous waste management systems was published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2012. Besides, it was majorly designed to make some vital changes to the hazardous waste identification rules. These unsafe rules were put in place by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). According to various reports from the environmental management section, the United States energy department should be held responsible for the mixed wastes. Therefore, the wastes should be treated in regard to the standards set by the environmental protection agency. Handling these dangerous wastes require numerous procedures that destroy its constituents to the environment. Additionally, handling the treated wastes pose some threats to the human health and the community at large. To show some responsibility, department of energy should work hand In hand with the environmental protection agencies. Consequently, vital alternatives for mixed waste management should be put in place to reduce the harmful effects associated with it.
However, garbage treated by immobilization technologies should not be included in the hazardous waste regulations since they hardly pose considerable threats to the environment, human health, and the community at large (Nunno, 1990). In addition, mixed waste should be treated by extraction technologies. Thus, immobilization will not go against the RCRA. The remnants should also be disinfected using suitable immobilization technology and radioactive waste disposal equipments. This will eventually lead to the protection of the environment, human health, and the whole society. Evidently, this is critical in the context of waste management.
Issues raised in the proposed rule
There are numerous issues raised in the proposed rule. First, the environmental protection agency should give permission to the United States’ energy department to make some vital changes to Idaho’s dangerous waste management plan. The essential changes should include the most current edition of the dangerous waste management regulations. Besides, the environmental protection agency is suggesting the restructure of the dangerous waste management program. This will be achieved by modifying subpart N of 40 CFR section 272, which at present, includes Idaho’s approved hazardous waste program (Nunno, 1990). The issue of making some important changes to check on the areas where the debris would be disposed, and also improve the numerical treatment standards, has been widely discussed. Additionally, some of the unsafe rules put in place by the RCRA should be excluded and amendments carried out thereafter. Immobilization method of waste treatment should not be included in the harmful waste guidelines since treated wastes do not pose serious dangers to human health or the environment.
The issue of excluding some of the hazardous waste management rules has been supported by the proposed use of suitable immobilization technology for disinfection. Besides, disposing off the wastes by using radioactive methods has proved to be less harmful to the environment and human health. Thus, it is crucial to embrace such techniques.
Opinion regarding the rule
The rule is completely viable and should be adopted since the treated and well-disposed garbage has proved to be less dangerous to the environment and the society at large. Besides, treated wastes are not toxic; thus, will not cause harm to the human health and the environment. Wastes destructed by radioactive method are hardly harmful to the human life. Conclusively, this proposed rule should be adopted since it has minimal or no risks. This is a critical provision in the context of waste management and environmental protection.
Reference
Nunno, T. (1990). International technologies for hazardous waste site cleanup. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Data Corp.