Environmental issues groundwater treatment

Environmental restoration activities may be conducted under a RCRA, Part B permit when RCRA hazardous wastes are involved. The RCRA hazardous wastes are identified in 40 CFR 261 and Include characteristic" hazardous wastes as defined in subpart C and "listed" hazardous wastes as defined in subpart D. The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment (HSWA) to RCRA includes prohibitions on land disposal of hazardous waste. Under this statute, the EPA has issued regulations (40 CFR 286) that ban the land disposal of untreated hazardous waste and has established treatment standards based on the BDAT. The way that these standards can be Involved in a CERCLA remedial action was discussed above. In addition, technical standards for environmental restoration activities conducted under a RCRA, Part B permit are given in 40 CFR 264, Including closure requirements and groundwater concentration limits (see 40 CFR 264.94). 

Capping the residue pile and closure of operation must be done in an environmentally safe manner. This also is an expensive proposition. Free cyanides are left in the residue may volatilize to the atmosphere or be destroyed by ultraviolet radiation. However, surface water contamination, even after the closure, becomes an important issue. Monitoring of groundwater wells installed at the time of closure is continued through the postclosure period, typically over a period of 30 years. It seems to be an important research task to develop processes that can be used for decisive treatment of residues and remediation of sites. 

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