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Drinking Water: Projects That May Damage Sole Source Aquifers Are Not Always Identified

RCED-93-4 Published: Oct 13, 1992. Publicly Released: Nov 12, 1992.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act's sole-source provisions; (2) gathered information about whether the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) followed established procedures for referring two highway projects located over the Edwards Aquifer in Texas to EPA for review; and (3) examined whether there are potential nationwide weaknesses in the mechanisms that trigger reviews of federal financially assisted projects that may contaminate sole-source aquifers.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Because some projects that should be reviewed by EPA under the Sole Source Aquifer Protection Program are not currently being identified, Congress should amend section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act to require federal agencies sponsoring projects in sole-source aquifer areas to submit to EPA a description of the project, an assessment of whether or not the project poses a risk to the sole-source aquifer, and documentation supporting the assessment. EPA could then examine the inventory of submissions to identify higher-risk projects that warrant more detailed review.
Closed – Not Implemented
The Safe Drinking Water Act was reauthorized in August 1996 and did not contain any language that addressed the recommendations. No further congressional action is planned.

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Topics

AquifersEnvironmental impact statementsEnvironmental policiesstate relationsInteragency relationsPotable waterRoad constructionWater pollutionWater pollution controlWater qualityWater treatmentGroundwater