GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SOURCES: HAZARDOUS AND RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND WASTE, SOLID WASTE, RECYCLING

LOCAL:

Municipal and county sanitation or recycling departments: Some house data on solid waste, recycling, and composting in their jurisdiction.

STATE:

N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety - Emergency Management Division (116 W. Jones St., Raleigh 27603; 919/733-3865): Coordinates response and relief activities for major emergencies and disasters. Maintains databases of information including Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 304 Emergency Notification (information on hazardous substances released to the air, land, surface, and groundwater); Tier Two Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory (amounts and lo cations for Occupational Safety and Health Administration hazardous chemicals); and Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for the state (for more information on the TRI, click here).

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Hotline (800/451-1403) provides information over the phone on the contents of SARA Title III and on the aforementioned databases.

N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR):

Environmental Management Division (P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh 27626-0535; 919/733-7015): Conducts comprehensive planning and management of N.C. groundwater, surface water, and air resources. Issues pollution control permits, monitors permit com pliance, evaluates environmental quality, and enforces environmental regulations.
- Groundwater Section: Maintains a database of information on underground tanks storing petroleum, diesel, kerosene, gasoline, oil, or hazardous substances. (Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ((CERC LA)) of 1980).
- Water Quality Section: Maintains databases of information on environmental emergencies or fish kills caused by chemical/oil spills and on dioxin levels in fish tissue (tests are conducted in several river basins).
Epidemiology Division (Cooper Bldg., 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh 27603-5902; 919/733-3421): Monitors disease incidences and distributions, developing measures to reduce or eliminate them.
- Environmental Epidemiology Section (733-3410): Responsible for assessing human risk to individuals and groups due to advancements in technology and changes in N.C. industry involving toxic and hazardous chemicals.
- Occupational Health Section (733-3680): Works to reduce illness, disability, and discomfort arising from physical and biological stress or exposure to chemicals in the work environment.

Office of Environmental Education - N.C. Keep America Beautiful (KAB) (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-0715): Conducts educational programs at schools for students and teachers on litter, solid waste, and recycling. Composed of a cent ral office and affiliates in 29 counties.

Office of Waste Reduction (3825 Barrett Dr., Ste. 300, Raleigh 27619; 919/571-4100): Operates a library and acts as an information clearinghouse.

Pollution Prevention Program: Provides industry with free, non-regulatory technical assistance on reducing air emissions, waterborne pollutants, toxics, hazardous waste, and industrial solid waste in air, water, and land. Helps industries comp ly with the waste reduction planning requirements of Senate Bill 324. Houses Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for the state (for more information on the TRI, click here). Maintains the Multi-Media Waste Reduction Management Syste m, a database of information on permitted waste generation and pollution releases to the air, water, and land. Publication list available.
Solid Waste Reduction Program: Promotes source reduction, recycling, reuse, and composting. Developing a recycling infrastructure within the state. Helps local and state agencies and firms meet the waste reduction provisions of Senate Bill 111 an d House Bill 1109. Cooperates with the Solid Waste Management Division in collecting and organizing data on recycling (which can be broken down by municipality, county, or material) and publishing an annual report on recycling in N.C.
Produces publica tions with information on recycling programs, contacts, and materials markets in the state. Distributes assorted publications including an EPA booklet of case studies called Recycling Works! State and Local Solutions to Solid Waste Management Problem s. Publication list available.

Radiation Protection Division (3825 Barrett Dr., Raleigh 27619; 919/571-4141): Serves as the lead agency for response to radiation accidents and emergencies (response is coordinated by the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety Division of Emergency Management). Assists the public in managing radon gas problems.

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Section: Responsible for the technical evaluation of proposed low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. Oversees licensing of disposal facilities and inspects their construction and operation.
Nuclear Facilities and Environmental Radiation Section: Develops and implements monitoring and evaluation programs for radiation and radioactive contamination levels. Conducts statewide and facility-oriented monitoring of environmental radiati on and radioactivity levels in air, water, soil, vegetation, shellfish, milk, etc.
Radioactive Materials Section: Licenses, inspects, regulates, and permits the receipt, possession, use, transfer, and disposal of radioactive material and particle accelerator facilities.

Solid Waste Management Division (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611; 919/733-4996): Develops plans for solid and hazardous waste management and for the clean-up of uncontrolled waste sites.

Hazardous Waste Section (733-2178): Regulates the hazardous waste community; encourages hazardous waste minimization, recycling, and reuse; and conducts public education. Issues permits which specify requirements for each hazardous waste trea tment, storage or disposal facility. Conducts compliance audits, and in cooperation of the State Attorney General's Office takes enforcement actions against violators. Publishes the North Carolina Hazardous Waste Annual Report: Generation, Storage, Trea tment, Disposal.
Solid Waste Section (733-0692): Develops, implements, and maintains a solid waste management program. Issues permits for and evaluates compliance of sanitary landfills, waste to energy facilities, medical waste facilities, demolition landfill s, transfer facilities, recycling facilities, and septic disposal sites. Provides technical assistance to local governments. Conducts educational programs.
Superfund Section (733-2801): Evaluates uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in N.C. Works with U.S. EPA to identify the most serious sites, or National Priority List (NPL) sites. Evaluates uncontrolled hazardous waste sites which are not clea ned up by the Federal Government but may be cleaned up under the State Inactive Hazardous Sites Program. Maintains a database of information on hazardous waste generated by N.C. industries (amounts treated or shipped offside, waste type, destination of w aste, and treatment options). Houses Resource Conservation and Recovery Information System (RCRIS), an inventory of information on all hazardous waste facilities in the state.

Environmental Management Commission (P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh 27626-0535; 919/733-7015): Forms policies and rules for the Divisions of Environmental Management, Water Resources, and Land Resources. Adopts rules for air quality standards, emission control standards, and classifications for air contaminant sources; for water quality standards and classifications; for the implementation of water and air quality reporting; and for governing underground tanks used for storing hazardous substances or oi l. Grants and revokes permits in regard to dam construction and air and water pollution control; provides technical assistance; and declares pollution emergencies. Comprised of 17 members.

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Authority (116 W. Jones St., Ste. 2109, Raleigh 27603-8003; 919/733-0682 or 800/248-6421): Responsible for providing for the comprehensive management of low-level radioactive waste in the state. Comprised of 15 members.

N.C. Office of State Planning - State Data Center (116 W. Jones St., Raleigh 27603-8003; 919/733-4131): Publishes Statistical Abstract of North Carolina Counties (1991), a collection of tables and figures, many of which are broken down by county. The book includes an "Environment, Recreation, and Resources" section with data on amounts of hazardous waste generated and handled and sewage disposal system types of housing units. Available in many libraries.

Pollution Prevention Advisory Council (512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh 27604-1148; 919/733-4984): Evaluates laws, rules, regulations, and needs pertaining to pollution prevention for water, air, and solid and hazardous waste. Scheduled to make poli cy recommendations to the General Assembly in April 1994 and to dissolve one year later. Comprised of 14 members.

Radiation Protection Commission (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611; 919/571-4141): Advises the Secretary of DEHNR and adopts rules and regulations regarding radiation protection for N.C. citizens. Comprised of 11 voting members and 10 ex-oficio membe rs.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SYSTEM:

Western Carolina University Center for Improving Mountain Living (Bird Bldg., Cullowhee 28723; 704/227-7492): Provides research, technical assistance, and education to western N.C. on community development, hazardous and radioactive substances, so lid waste, recycling, and other areas. Published Pollution Prevention Pays Instructional Manual and a report called Preliminary Rural Solid Waste Assessment for Portions of Southern Appalachia.

FEDERAL:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (c/o Publications Dissemination, DSDTT, 4676 Columbia Pkwy., Cincinnati, OH 45226; 513/533-8287): Publishes A Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards which contains detailed descriptive and health-related information on numerous chemicals. Available from NIOSH, Government Printing Office (GPO), and National Technical Information Service (NTIS) (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161; 800/553-6847).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

Hazardous Waste Ombudsman Program (Central office: OS-130, 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460; 800/262-7937 or 202/260-9361. Contact for Region IV which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina , and Tennessee: 404/347-3004): Helps the public and the regulated community resolve problems related to programs and requirements of the Hazardous Waste Program. The Ombudsman Program handles complaints and distributes information regarding the hazardo us waste management program established under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Library Services Office, Research Triangle Park (MD-35, RTP 27711; 919/541-2777): The collection focuses on chemical toxicity, all aspects of air pollution as well as the basic sciences, and business and economics. Materials are not loaned ou t to the public; reference services by phone and mail are available.
Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (401 M St. SW, Mailcode 7409, Washington, DC 20460; 202/260-1023): Publishes a newsletter called Pollution Prevention News, which covers pollution prevention program activities of the EPA, other agencies, companies, and organizations; reviews articles and documents; and reports on related news.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Docket and Information Center (401 M St. SW, RCRA Mailcode OS-305, Washington, DC 20460; 202/260-9327): Distributes Reusable News, a quarterly newsletter published by Office of Solid Waste and Emer gency Response which reports on municipal, state, and company recycling; EPA activities; materials exchanges; related publications; and technical innovations and equipment.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)/Superfund/Underground Storage Tank Hotline (RCRA/SF/OUST Hotline, 1725 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA 22202; 800/424-9346, 800/553-7672 TDD, or 703/920-9810): Provides assistance in understand ing U.S. EPA regulations regarding RCRA, Underground Storage Tanks (UST), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and Pollution Prevention/Waste Minimization.
Right-to-Know Information Hotline (OS-120, 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460; 800/535-0202; fax 703/412-3333): Distributes Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets which contain detailed health and ecological information for individual Toxics Release Inventory chemicals. Also distributes the list of TRI chemicals.
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Information Service (Environmental Assistance Division, TS-799, 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460; 202/554-1404): Provides general and technical information on TSCA regulations.
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