Alaska is now in charge of hazardous waste regulation in the state, a task that can be made more challenging by geographic remoteness. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday officially transferred authority for hazardous waste regulation to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC has assembled a hazardous waste program and team and has created state regulations that became effective a year ago. The Alaska Legislature has made regular appropriations in budgets for the hazardous waste program, which is part of DEC’s Division of Environmental Health. For Alaska, distance poses a major challenge to hazardous waste management, Pokon said.