Georgia
Hazardous Waste Management Program
Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Program
Governments and businesses that generate or store hazardous waste in Georgia are regulated by the hazardous waste programs of the Land Protection Branch of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). EPD says these programs also investigate spills and releases involving hazardous waste and determine the impact to soil and water. EPD adopts the federal hazardous waste regulations by reference.
In a Phase I ESA
These are the Georgia records of who generated, stored, treated or disposed of hazardous waste, and of the cleanups at permitted sites. They sit beside the federal records described on the RCRA Generators page, the RCRA TSD page and the RCRA CORRACTS page. ASTM E1527-21 lists state hazardous waste facility records among its standard sources. This handbook does not pair a single Georgia list with that type. The distances the standard sets for each kind of record are on the search distances page.
The work is split among units, and the unit tells you what kind of site you are looking at.
| Unit | What EPD says it does |
|---|---|
| RCRA Notifications and Data Management Team | Issues EPA identification numbers and updates handler status; processes biennial reports and hazardous waste reduction plans |
| Generator Compliance Unit | Compliance monitoring and enforcement at hazardous waste handlers, including generators, transporters, recyclers, universal waste facilities and used oil transporters and facilities |
| Treatment and Storage Unit | Permitting, compliance monitoring and enforcement at permitted treatment, storage and disposal facilities; oversees investigation and remediation of releases at hazardous waste facilities |
| Department of Defense Facilities Unit | Permitting and enforcement at Department of Defense facilities; oversees investigation and remediation at active and inactive military installations, including formerly used defense sites |
| Remedial Sites Units I, II and III | Permitting, compliance monitoring and enforcement at facilities undergoing corrective action and post-closure care; reviews cleanups for select privately owned or operated sites on the National Priorities List |
The Remedial Sites Units make up the Hazardous Waste Corrective Action Program. EPD lists that program separately from the Response and Remediation Program that keeps the Hazardous Site Inventory, so for a facility in corrective action, ask the Corrective Action Program.
What the record shows
The filings EPD describes show what a handler's file can hold.
- Notification. EPA Form 8700-12 is filed to obtain an EPA identification number, and again whenever any facility information on the form changes. EPD says small quantity generators must also re-notify every four years; the deadline it gives was before September 1, 2025.
- Biennial report. Large quantity generators and treatment, storage or disposal facilities report at least every two years. For the 2025 report, EPD says small and very small quantity generators that were large quantity generators at any time during 2025 must report as well. A generator's size class can change, so read the dates on a notification.
- Waste reduction plan. Large quantity generators must submit a waste reduction plan to EPD, then a progress report every two years.
- Part A permit application. Anyone who owns or operates a facility where hazardous waste is treated, stored or disposed of must have a permit. Interim status lets an existing facility keep operating until a final permit is issued.
- Financial assurance. Permitted owners and operators must keep financial assurance for clean closure and, if clean closure cannot be achieved, for post-closure care and corrective action.
EPD lists the rule as 391-3-11, Hazardous Waste Management, and the statute as the Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Act, O.C.G.A. 12-8-60.
Where to look a site up
- The pages read do not link a state list of hazardous waste handlers. EPD says notifications can be submitted, and biennial reports must be submitted, through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's RCRAInfo system, so start with the federal record.
- EPD's eServices page links ECHO, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's search of facilities' compliance with environmental regulations.
- EPD's Hazardous Waste Technical Guidance page links a list of commercial used oil transporters and processors in Georgia that have obtained an EPA identification number, revised November 2023.
- The Hazardous Waste Management Program and the Hazardous Waste Corrective Action Program are both at 404.657.8600.
Getting the file
EPD's downtown office holds the hazardous waste files. File reviews are by appointment, requested by email at the address on EPD's Land Branch Open Records Requests page. Requests under the Georgia Open Records Act go through EPD's Open Records Request Portal.
Sources
Georgia Environmental Protection Division pages, read October 7, 2026:
- Hazardous Waste, last modified September 1, 2026.
- LPB Program and Units, last modified June 30, 2026.
- Hazardous Waste Forms, last modified September 1, 2026.
- Small Quantity Generator Requirements, last modified January 17, 2025.
- Hazardous Waste Technical Guidance, last modified September 16, 2026.
- eServices, last modified March 30, 2026.
- Existing Rules and Corresponding Laws, last modified September 26, 2024.
- Contact Us, last modified June 18, 2026.
- Land Branch Open Records Requests, last modified July 29, 2026.