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Will there be flexibility with regard to public involvement requirements for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permits since public meetings are prohibited in a lot of states due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency?

Yes, EPA has issued a guidance to address this issue. The guidance recommends that RCRA program implementers use virtual alternatives, where feasible, in lieu of in-person public meetings, public hearings, door-to-door visits, and other facility-related face-to-face public interactions. The guidance further recommends that in-person public interactions should not be held, reflecting current federal, state, tribal, and local COVID-19 guidance on events and mass gatherings as well as social distancing.  

Regulators should check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest federal guidance, and maintain awareness of the most current guidance from state, local and tribal public health and governmental officials. Read through the interim RCRA public involvement guidance here.

Return to Frequent Questions about Waste and Coronavirus (COVID-19).