What is RCRA?
RCRA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, is the federal law that governs hazardous waste from the moment it's made to its disposal. It also covers underground storage tanks.
In more detail
Businesses that generate hazardous waste register with EPA or their state and are grouped by how much they make: very small, small and large quantity generators. Auto shops, printers, dry cleaners and manufacturers are common entries.
EPA's RCRAInfo database lists these handlers, their violations and any corrective action. Treatment, storage and disposal facilities face the strictest rules.
What it means when you buy
A RCRA listing at the address tells you a past tenant handled hazardous waste. It is not proof of contamination, but violations or corrective action are worth a closer look.
How the pre-screen handles it
The pre-screen pulls RCRA and EPA enforcement records for the address and nearby handlers, with each one's generator size and violation history.
Pre-screen a property before you spend on a Phase I
A desk review of one address: past uses from historical photos and maps, federal and state environmental records, and flood risk, ready usually within the hour. $100 for one report, or $100/month for 3.