Final answer:
Specialized cleanup teams, often from environmental agencies or private companies, are responsible for cleaning up hazardous spills. These teams work under regulations set by the EPA to ensure safe handling of hazardous waste and to protect public health and the environment. Severe contamination may involve federal cleanup programs like Superfund.
Step-by-step explanation:
When hazardous spills of waste material occur, it is typically the responsibility of specialized cleanup teams to conduct the cleanup. These teams are often part of environmental protection agencies or specialized private companies that are trained in dealing with hazardous materials. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed regulations to ensure that the recycling and disposal of hazardous waste are conducted in a safe manner. In cases of severe contamination, such as those requiring Superfund intervention, the cleanup is overseen by federal programs dedicated to addressing uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The goal of these cleanups is always to protect human health and the environment.
When hazardous waste facilities are sited, decisions are typically based on a balance of economic, geological, and political factors. Protective measures, like the establishment of evacuation zones and the safe removal of contamination, are part of the response following an accident at such a facility.
Additionally, transporters and generators of hazardous waste are subjected to regulations when moving regulated wastes on public pathways to facilities that can safely recycle, treat, store, or dispose of the waste.