What is the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)?

The primary purpose of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) is to discourage the disposal of recyclable toxic substances. Under this statute, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts a yearly audit of the major users of toxic substances and producers of toxic wastes. The purpose of the audit is to determine whether

• there are better and less environmentally damaging ways to complete the task without use of toxic substances
• there are ways to minimize the production of toxic wastes
• there are ways to recycle the toxic substances or the containers of toxic substances

Who is regulated under PPA?

Those regulated by the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) include the following:

• people or businesses using more than 10,000 pounds of any toxic substance per year
• people or businesses producing more than 25,000 pounds of toxic wastes per year

The statute requires an annual report to EPA concerning the use and production of toxic substances and wastes. The forms require the following information:

• the quantity of chemical entering any waste stream prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal during the calendar year
• the amount of chemical that is recycled during the calendar year
• the amount of toxic chemical released into the environment due to a catastrophic event or remedial action
• the techniques used to identify source reduction opportunities
• the amount of chemical from the facility that has been treated during the calendar year
• the source reduction practices for that chemical for the previous year
• the amount of chemical expected to be reported for the following two years, expressed as a percentage change
• the ratio of production of the chemical during the calendar year to production in the previous year

EPA cannot delegate this responsibility to the states, so you must report directly to EPA if this law affects you. Since toxic substances may include gasoline in underground storage tanks, pesticides, or oil, farmers are encouraged to contact EPA to see whether they fall under the requirements. For more information on the toxic chemical release form, see “Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act” (FE766).

What farm pollution prevention techniques are prescribed by EPA?

In the agricultural sector, pollution prevention techniques include

• reducing the use of water and chemical inputs
• adopting less environmentally harmful pesticides
• cultivating crop strains with natural resistance to pests
• protecting sensitive areas by constructing natural barriers to minimize pesticide movement from the field

Acknowledgment

The authors are indebted to the personnel of both state and federal agencies who gave of their time and advice in the preparation of this handbook. The authors are also indebted to the O. R. and Shirley Minton and the James S. and Dorothy F. Wershow Endowments for funding assistance in the development of this handbook, and Andra Johnson, Ph.D., dean and professor, Office of Dean for Extension and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.