An Overview of Selected EPA RCRA Test Method Development and Evaluation Activities

This paper will present an overview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's current and near-term future test method development and evaluation activities in light of the agency's regulatory activities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The paper will discuss the work in terms of the regulatory purpose to be served, the approach to be taken in conducting the studies, progress made to date, the responsible research organization, and the anticipated schedule.

Among the specific areas discussed are evaluation of current and proposed SW-846 (Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste) methods, development and evaluation of less costly methods for determining the presence and concentration of the Appendix VIII (40 CFR 261) hazardous constituents in groundwater, development and evaluation of sampling methods to determine the concentration of organic compounds in ambient air and stack emissions, and some aspects of the agency's activities in developing procedures to determine the leaching potential of waste materials placed in various environmental settings.