Understanding the RCRA Exclusion for oil and gas E&P
When EPA introduced the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the hazardous waste management standards included reduced requirements for some large-volume wastes. After studying the hazards of wastes in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) operations, as directed by the US Congress, EPA determined regulation of these wastes under RCRA was not warranted. Therefore, many oil and gas E&P wastes are excluded from the RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste management standards.
On its face, the exclusion seems simple; the total regulation text dealing with this exclusion amounts to about one sentence: