Environmental Protection, Bureau

As prescribed in NRS 459.400, the purpose of the hazardous waste program is to protect human health, public safety and the environment from the effects of improper, inadequate or unsound management of hazardous waste. This is accomplished by establishing programs that regulate the storage, generation, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste. The hazardous waste program is responsible for permitting and inspecting hazardous waste generators and disposal, transfer, storage and recycling facilities. It is also responsible for enforcing state hazardous waste statutes and regulations; program staff are authorized to enforce Federal hazardous waste regulations in lieu of the USEPA.

The USEPA requires an authorized state's hazardous waste regulations to be at least as stringent as those established at the Federal level. To accomplish this, Nevada adopts by reference, with certain modifications, Federal hazardous waste regulations. To remain authorized the hazardous waste program must periodically update the existing state regulations to reflect changes approved by the USEPA.

The Division of Environmental Protection maintains a contract with the University of Nevada's Business Environmental Program to provide free and confidential hazardous waste technical assistance to small businesses throughout Nevada. They may be contacted at (800) 882-3233 Toll-Free in Nevada, (775) 834-3674 in Reno and (702) 866-5927 in Las Vegas.