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Waste/Remediation Programs

The Land Division administers several of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's Waste Management and Remediation Programs pursuant to the authorities granted by the provisions of the Alabama Environmental Management Act, Ala. Code §§22-22A-1 to 22-22A-16 and various other Acts. The Land Division has primary jurisdiction over disposal of solid and hazardous waste within the State and with the remediation of contaminated sites. Major programs within the Land Division include Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, Remediation, Scrap Tire, and Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup. Several other programs are also administered by Land Division.

Hazardous Waste Program: The Basics

The rules for ADEM's Hazardous Waste Program are found in Division 14 of the ADEM Administrative Code, pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-30-1 to 22-30-24. Division 14 regulations contain standards applicable to generators and transporters of hazardous waste and facilities that treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste. Division 14 also sets forth the permitting requirements for treatment, storage and disposal facilities and transporters of hazardous waste and for corrective action at sites where hazardous wastes may have been disposed of without a permit. These rules are at least as stringent as the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Land Division administers the delegable provision of RCRA. EPA has promulgated regulations that ADEM must follow in administering the provisions of RCRA in the State of Alabama. All federal hazardous waste rules are published in the Federal Register and subsequently Land Division undergoes a rulemaking process to adopt each regulation and any modifications to existing regulations into Division 14 of the ADEM Administrative Code. The Land Division may adopt regulations more restrictive than RCRA in certain instances.

The Hazardous Waste Program is administered within Land Division by the Governmental Hazardous Waste Branch (GHWB) and Industrial Hazardous Waste Branch (IWHB) for hazardous waste permitting, compliance inspections and enforcement and hazardous waste corrective action. Hazardous waste transporter permitting and hazardous waste financial assurance is administered by the Industrial Hazardous Waste Branch (IWHB).

Solid Waste Program: The Basics

The rules for ADEM's Solid Waste Program are found in Division 13 of the ADEM Administrative Code, pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-27-1 to 22-27-49. Division 13 regulations contain standards applicable to the design and operation of solid waste landfills and set forth the permitting requirements for solid waste disposal facilities. Collection and transportation of household solid waste is regulated by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The Solid Waste Program is administered within Land Division by the Solid Waste Branch (SWB) for solid waste landfill permitting, compliance inspections and enforcement and corrective action. The Environmental Service Branch (ESB) inspects illegal solid waste disposal sites and investigates complaints regarding solid waste disposal. Enforcement action is taken as necessary to assure proper disposal of all solid waste in Alabama.

CCR Presentation

CCR Fact Sheet

Alabama Solid Waste Study

ADEM Random Load Inspection Form

Permitted Landfills
Recycling Program: The Basics

The rules for ADEM’s Recycling Program are found in Division 13 of the ADEM Administrative Code, pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-27-1 to 22-27-18. Division 13 regulations contain requirements pertaining to the operating standards applicable to Material Recovery Facilities, Recoverable Materials Processing Facilities, and other facilities that receive, store, process, and sell recovered materials that are not used on any on-site, end-use manufacturing process.

The Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Management Act (SWRMMA) of 2008 established a $1 per ton tipping fee for landfilled material. A quarter of these funds are used for the Alabama Recycling Fund Grant Program and 75% of the funds are used in the administration of SWRMMA.

The Recycling Program is administered within the Land Division by the Materials Management Section (MMS) for registrations, grant program oversight, compliance inspections, and enforcement. MMS also investigates complaints regarding recovered materials management.

Division 13 also sets forth the procedures for the disbursement of recycling grants to local governments, authorities, and nonprofit organizations for use in developing, implementing, and enhancing local recycling, reuse, and waste minimization projects and programs. These programs help the State to reach the Statewide Waste Reduction Goal established in Division 13.

Remediation Program: The Basics

The Land Division administers a remediation program for contaminated sites under several federal and state regulations and Acts. Sites contaminated with hazardous waste and hazardous substances are addressed in this Program. ADEM assists EPA with remediation at sites subject to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, known as Superfund or CERCLA. ADEM may clean up small sites contaminated with hazardous substances under the Alabama Hazardous Substance Cleanup Fund Act, pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-30A-1 to 22-30A-11 (AHSCF). Drycleaner site remediation pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-30D-1 to 22-30D-12, the Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Act (ADERTF), is reviewed and approved by Land Division. Division 16 regulations contain standards applicable to the remediation of drycleaner sites utilizing Drycleaner Environmental Trust Fund monies.

The Remediation Program is administered within Land Division by the GHWB and IHWB for Superfund projects. AHSCF and ADERTF remediation projects are administered by the ESB’s Assessment Section.

Scrap Tire Program: The Basics

The rules for ADEM's Scrap Tire Program are found in Division 4 of the ADEM Administrative Code, pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-40A-1 to 22-40A-24. Division 4 regulations contain requirements applicable to the generation, transportation, storage and processing of scrap tires. Division 4 also sets forth the permitting requirements for transporters and processors of scrap tires. Remediation of scrap tire sites is also conducted by Land Division under the Scrap Tire Environmental Quality Act. Funds collected by the Alabama Department of Revenue for the Scrap Tire Environmental Fee of $1 per tire are used by ADEM to hire contractors to remove illegally disposed scrap tires for reuse or disposal.

The Scrap Tire Program is administered within Land Division by the SWB for permitting, compliance inspections and enforcement and scrap tire site remediation. ESB’s Removals and Response Unit inspects illegal scrap tire disposal sites and investigates complaints regarding scrap tire management, prepares enforcement action recommendations, and oversees the remediation of illegal scrap tire sites. Enforcement action is taken as necessary to assure proper management of all scrap tires in Alabama.

Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program: The Basics

The Land Division administers a program for redevelopment of brownfields sites in Alabama. Brownfields sites are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Often in highly desirable locations, redevelopment of brownfields sites may bring jobs, increase the local tax base or create public space without disturbing greenfields. The Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) rules are found in Division 15 of the ADEM Administrative Code, pursuant to Ala. Code §§22-30E-1 to 22-30E-13. Division 15 regulations contain requirements applicable to sites wishing to enter the VCP, including reports to be submitted and public participation.

The Land Division also administers a Brownfields Program utilizing a grant from EPA under the Section 128(a) of the federal Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. The Brownfields Program assists local governments and non-profit organizations with assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields sites. ADEM may perform site assessments for these entities at no cost, and also offers training and assistance on applying for EPA grants available under Section 128(a).

Sites that have been remediated under the Voluntary Cleanup Program can be found on Sites Remediated in Alabama. After opening, click on any county and the sites remediated under the VCP and other programs in Land Division are displayed. Links to selected site documents on the ADEM eFile system will be displayed when the site is selected on the map.

The Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program is administered within Land Division by the Redevelopment Section.

Underground Storage Tanks: The Basics

The UST Program consists of a prevention program (the UST Compliance Program) and a cleanup program (the UST Corrective Action Program). These two groups administer the UST regulatory program to help prevent releases and to require the cleanup of pollution caused by releases from underground storage tanks. The program also administers the Alabama Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank trust Fund which provides financial assistance for both aboveground and underground storage tank owners who comply with the regulatory requirements to clean up pollution from tanks that have had releases.

Hydrogeology Section: The Basics

The Hydrogeology Section of the Groundwater Branch provides hydrogeologic expertise and project management for the State Groundwater Protection Program. This program addresses a broad spectrum of contaminants not regulated by other authorized programs within the agency. Examples include petroleum hydrocarbons not related to underground storage tanks and chemical releases not regulated as hazardous wastes under RCRA. The Hydrogeology Section also provides hydrogeological, (groundwater related), services to other groups within the Department, other State agencies, government, and the public. Complaints received from the public regarding contamination of ground water are assigned to project managers in this Unit if they do not fall within any of the regulatory programs mentioned above.

Other Programs

Various other programs are administered by the Environmental Services Branch, including:

CERCLA Site Assessments, where sites potentially contaminated with hazardous waste or hazardous substances are assessed for EPA. Based on the assessment, a site may be proposed for listing on the National Priorities List or assigned to EPA Remediation Staff for remedial action under Superfund.

Medical Waste Program, where medical waste generators register with ADEM and medical waste transporters and processors are issued permits.

PCB Compliance Program, where ADEM performs inspections and enforcement assistance to EPA for sites regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Waste Pre-Approval Program, where generators of solid waste must submit hazardous waste determinations prior to receiving approval to dispose of hazardous waste and special waste in permitted hazardous waste or solid waste landfills. The Waste Pre-Approval Program is housed in the IHWB.



The link to the applicable State Statutes is found at https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama.

Title 22, Chapter 22A - Alabama Environmental Management Act
Title 22, Chapter 27 - Alabama Solid Wastes Disposal Act
Title 22, Chapter 30 - Alabama Hazardous Waste Management and Minimization Act
Title 22, Chapter 30A - Alabama Hazardous Substance Cleanup Fund Act
Title 22, Chapter 30B - Fees for Disposal of Hazardous Waste or Substances
Title 22, Chapter 30C - Chemical Weapons Destruction Limitation Act
Title 22, Chapter 30D - Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Act
Title 22, Chapter 30E - Alabama Land Recycling and Economic Redevelopment Act
Title 22, Chapter 40A - Alabama Scrap Tire Environmental Quality Act

Applicable Federal Statutes may be found at http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/

42 USC 9601, et seq. - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended
42 USC 6901, et seq. - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Act, as amended
42 USC 9628 - Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act
15 USC 2601, et seq. - Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended

To view additional Hazardous Waste information visit EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO).

To view additional PCB information visit EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) or https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/forms/contact-us-about-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs.


Contact Information

ADEM
Attn: Land Division
Post Office Box 301463
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463
(334) 271-7730
(334) 279-3050 fax
landmail@adem.alabama.gov