[EPA press release - October 16, 1981]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Anne M. Gorsuch today announced that the Agency has issued its first hazardous waste storage permit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

The permit was issued on October 1, to the Oil Solvent Process Company (OSCO) of Los Angeles for a new solvent storage facility soon to be built in Henderson, Colorado.

The permit allows the firm to store spent industrial solvents such as acetone and carbon tetrachloride before they are recycled--cleaned up and redistributed into the marketplace. Solvents to be recycled by OSCO are ignitable and toxic and classified as hazardous by EPA. The storage permit is effective for 10 years.

"This is the first storage permit issued under EPA's new hazardous waste standards, which became effective July 13, 1981, demonstrating the Reagan Administration's desire to move forward as quickly as possible with EPA's hazardous waste program," said Mrs. Gorsuch.

"OSCO has fully demonstrated its ability to meet EPA's storage safety standards. The company hopes to reintroduce approximately two million gallons annually of recycled solvents back into the market--an ideal non-regulatory, cost-effective solution to the handling of hazardous industrial waste."

During the permit application period, a draft permit was made available for public review and comment for 45 days. No adverse comments were received.