Alabama now enforces its own updated hazardous waste rules

The US environmental regulators approved changes to Alabama's program for managing dangerous waste. This means Alabama can now enforce its own updated rules, instead of the federal ones.

States can apply to manage their own hazardous waste programs, provided their rules meet federal standards. This approval means Alabama's specific updates to its waste management rules are now the law for companies operating there. It shifts the day-to-day enforcement from federal agents to state officials.