GUIDE
How Current Is EPA ECHO Data?
Written by US Waste Index · Published Aug 30, 2026 · Last reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · not yet independently reviewed by a third-party subject-matter expert — see Editorial Policy
Every compliance record on US Waste Index reflects a periodically refreshed EPA ECHO/RCRAInfo snapshot, not a live feed — currently dated August 26, 2026 across the site. The snapshot date shown on each record is what to check before relying on it, and this guide covers how to read it.
Snapshot, not real time
US Waste Index rebuilds its compliance data from EPA's ECHO Exporter and RCRAInfo extract on a periodic refresh cycle, not continuously. Between refreshes, a record on this site can lag behind what EPA's own live system shows — a newly filed violation or a just-resolved one, for example, won't appear here until the next ingest.
Where the date lives
Every EPA-sourced facility profile on US Waste Index states its snapshot date directly — the "as of" date shown alongside its compliance summary. That date applies to the whole compliance record shown on that page: violations, permits, inspections, and any Significant Non-Complier flag together, sourced from the same ingest.
Why the data lags at all
Most day-to-day RCRA inspection and enforcement work is done by state environmental agencies, which report up into EPA's systems on their own timelines (see our guide on RCRAInfo for how that reporting chain works). ECHO itself is also refreshed on its own schedule, not instantly as records change at the state level. Both of those hand-offs add lag between something happening at a facility and it showing up here.
When to verify directly with EPA
For anything time-sensitive or high-stakes — a contract decision, a legal question, a compliance filing — follow a facility's link to its full EPA ECHO detailed report and confirm directly against EPA's own live system rather than relying on the snapshot alone. US Waste Index sources from ECHO; it isn't a substitute for checking it yourself when it matters.
A real example: reading a facility's snapshot date
Below is a real facility's compliance summary with its snapshot date shown, from the same EPA data every profile on this site uses.
SAFETY-KLEEN SYS (619401)
EPA public recordLONGVIEW, TX · Registry ID 110000458175 · RCRA handler ID TXD000747378
- Handler classification(s)
- LQG, TSDF
- Recorded violations
- 11
- Open violations
- 0
- Significant non-complier
- No
- Total penalties (5-yr)
- —
- Inspections (5-yr)
- 3
As of Aug 26, 2026. View this facility's full record →
FAQ
Is US Waste Index compliance data live?
No — it's a periodically refreshed snapshot of EPA's ECHO/RCRAInfo extract, not a real-time feed. The snapshot date on each record shows when it was last refreshed.
How often does the data refresh?
On a periodic ingest cycle rather than a fixed real-time schedule — check the snapshot date on the specific record you're viewing rather than assuming a fixed interval.
Why might EPA's own ECHO site show something different?
Because ECHO itself refreshes on its own schedule, and state agencies (which handle most day-to-day RCRA enforcement) report up on their own timelines too — both add lag before a change reaches the snapshot US Waste Index uses.
Where do I find the snapshot date for a specific facility?
Directly on its profile page, shown as the "as of" date alongside its compliance summary.
What should I do if a decision is time-sensitive?
Follow the facility's link to its full EPA ECHO detailed report and verify directly against EPA's live system before relying on it.
Primary sources
This guide is reference material compiled by US Waste Index, not original regulatory guidance — verify anything time-sensitive or high-stakes directly against these primary sources.