EPA listed four wastes as hazardous under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and decided not to list ten other petroleum refining wastes. The four wastes listed as hazardous are listed under K169, K170, K171 and K172. The environmentally sound recycling of oil-bearing residuals is promoted in this rule through the exclusion of certain recycled secondary materials.

An exemption for waste leachate from non-hazardous landfills containing the four listed wastes was promulgated pending further study of the issue. EPA has also responded to comments concerning spent catalyst waste from hydroprocessing reactors at petroleum refining facilities, information for which can be found below.

The final rule, as well as a fact sheet about the final rule can be found below:

• Federal Register Notice for the Final Rule

• Fact Sheet about the Final Standards Promulgated for Petroleum Refining Waste (PDF)(2 pp, 12 K, July 1998, EPA530-F-98-014)