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Hazardous Waste: Issues Pertaining to an Incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio

RCED-94-101 Published: Sep 09, 1994. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 1994.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) issues concerning the operational control and ownership of a hazardous waste incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio; (2) whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ohio have complied with regulations for approving and modifying incinerator permits; and (3) EPA ability to ensure that human health and the environment are protected during the operation of the incinerator.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should amend the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations to: (1) incorporate the alternative site analysis requirement of Executive Order 11988; and (2) require that the 500-year floodplain be used instead of the 100-year floodplain.
Closed – Not Implemented
The agency does not consider this to be a priority for the RCRA hazardous waste program and therefore does not plan to amend the RCRA regulations.
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should request that the EPA staff who are currently developing proposals as part of the agency's draft combustion strategy establish guidance on conditions or circumstances for which opportunities for public participation should be provided beyond the present regulatory requirements, including situations in which the permittee does not follow the RCRA permit modification requirements and when significant updated information is required to be submitted as a condition of the permit after the permit is issued.
Closed – Implemented
In June 1994, EPA proposed the RCRA Expanded Public Participation and Revisions to Combustion Permitting Procedure rule. Although the draft final rule requires additional opportunities for public participation in the permitting process, it does not include public participation requirements for specific situations discussed in the recommendation.

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Topics

Air pollution controlEnvironmental lawFloodsEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental policiesHazardous substancesIndustrial facilitiesLicensesPublic relationsWaste disposal