Section 12-8-64. Powers and duties of board as to hazardous waste

   In the performance of its duties, the board shall have and may exercise the power to:

   (1) Adopt, promulgate, modify, amend, and repeal rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this article as the board may deem necessary to provide for the control and management of hazardous waste to protect the environment and the health of humans. Such rules and regulations may be applicable to the state as a whole or may vary from area to area, as may be appropriate to facilitate the accomplishment of the provisions, purposes, and policies of this article. The rules and regulations shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

      (A) Rules and regulations governing and controlling standards applicable to hazardous waste generators, hazardous waste transporters, and owners or operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facilities. These rules and regulations may include measures to ensure that hazardous waste management practices are regulated, governed, and controlled in the public interest. Such measures may include, but shall not be limited to:

         (i) The establishment of record-keeping procedures;

         (ii) Requirements calling for the submission of reports to the director; and

         (iii) The establishment of monitoring practices;

      (B) Rules and regulations governing and controlling the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste;

      (C) Rules and regulations specifying the terms, provisions, and conditions under which the director shall issue, modify, amend, revoke, or deny permits pursuant to this article;

      (D) Rules and regulations governing and controlling hazardous waste management;

      (E) Rules and regulations establishing procedures and requirements for the reporting of the generation of hazardous wastes and governing and controlling the activities of hazardous waste generators;

      (F) Rules and regulations establishing standards and procedures for the operation and maintenance of hazardous waste facilities;

      (G) Rules and regulations establishing the use of a manifest during the generation and handling of hazardous wastes;

      (H) Rules and regulations establishing procedures to ensure public access to records and to ensure protection of trade secrets and confidential information, the disclosure of which to the director is required by this article or the rules and regulations adopted under this article;

      (I) Rules and regulations establishing procedures and requirements for the use and disposition of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents;

      (J) Rules and regulations deleting certain solid wastes from the definition of hazardous waste;

      (K) Rules and regulations exempting from some or all regulation certain small quantities of hazardous waste;

      (L) Rules and regulations exempting from some or all regulation certain hazardous wastes that are recyclable; and

      (M) Rules and regulations designating certain solid wastes as designated hazardous wastes; and

   (2) Take all necessary steps to ensure the effective enforcement of this article.

Ga. L. 1979, p. 1127, § 5; Ga. L. 1985, p. 266, § 3; Ga. L. 1988, p. 727, § 2; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2234, § 5.