What is the difference between permit status and interim status for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs)?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) required that two sets of regulations be developed for TSDFs:

• Those for TSDFs that would be built after the regulations were established (permit status), and
• Those for TSDFs that already existed when the regulations were established (interim status).

The interim status standards were developed to accommodate existing facilities that couldn’t immediately comply with the full TSDF regulations. The standards in 40 CFR Part 264 for new TSDFs with permit status are nearly the same as those in Part 265 for existing TSDFs with interim status. The regulations in Part 264 are more stringent only where such requirements would be impracticable for existing facilities to immediately implement.

It's important to note that all TSDFs, regardless of status, are required by RCRA to obtain an operating permit to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste.