Hazardous Waste Exports: Data Quality and Collection Problems Weaken EPA Enforcement Activities
PEMD-93-24
Published: Jul 06, 1993. Publicly Released: Aug 06, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) hazardous waste export data to determine whether: (1) the effectiveness of the EPA hazardous waste export regulatory program is directly dependent upon the quality of the data; and (2) data problems jeopardize the EPA program or foreign importers' decisions to import U.S. hazardous wastes.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
---|---|---|
Environmental Protection Agency | For the six systemic program problems, the Administrator, EPA, should initiate efforts as soon as possible to render regulations specific enough for valid, reliable, and complete data to be obtained. |
Closed – Implemented
EPA has completed its review and taken steps to address problems where appropriate.
|
Environmental Protection Agency | For the exporter-related problems, the Administrator, EPA, should conduct an internal evaluation to determine whether the problems are generalized among the overall exporter population. The Administrator should then examine what further monitoring or enforcement measures may be necessary; for example, conducting regular comparisons of exporters' and receiving facilities' hazardous waste quantity estimates. |
Closed – Not Implemented
EPA does not intend to implement this recommendation.
|
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Topics
Data collectionData integrityExport regulationHazardous substancesImportingInternational relationsManagement information systemsStatistical dataWaste managementHazardous wastes