Abstract
Facing the dilemma of hazardous wastes entering the environment on a regular basis is a reality that is difficult for many individuals to comprehend much less control. Due to increased public awareness in regards to the hazardous waste problem, hazardous waste control programs have been established and implemented throughout the United States and especially in California. As a result of this increased public awareness and concern, hazardous waste control programs have been implemented at the local level throughout the Southern California region. These local programs provide routine surveillance and enforcement activities and the first line of defense in emergency spill incidents and citizen complaint investigations. In Southern California, the State Department of Health Services has entered into formal agreements with some of the County programs to enforce local and State Hazardous Waste Regulations. Currently, the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Imperial, Santa Barbara and Riverside maintain formal agreements with the State. In the formation and implementation of these local programs many obstacles were presented. Such issues as political commitment, industry support, industry base size, workload, training, funding, education and experience requirements and external and internal factors were critical to the development of these local programs. This study has described and brought out these factors that have affected the implementation and development of local hazardous waste control programs in Southern California.