Air Pollution: EPA's Strategy and Resources May Be Inadequate to Control Air Toxics

GAO discussed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA): (1) planning strategy and resources for implementing the air toxics provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; and (2) efforts to monitor state vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. GAO noted that: (1) the EPA implementation strategy for the Clean Air Act Amendments does not explain how it will collect the needed scientific information and technical data to substantiate proposed regulatory decisions; (2) the EPA strategy does not address its plan to consider cost and energy factors and how such factors may affect the amount of reductions required; (3) although EPA lacks measurement methods for 149 of the 189 air toxics specified in the act, its strategy does not discuss the use of generic measurement methods; (4) the EPA strategy does not explain the basis for dividing major air toxics sources into numerous categories and subcategories, requiring different control standards; (5) although EPA requested $7.5 million more in air toxics resources in fiscal year (FY) 1991 than it did in FY 1990, it may not have sufficient funds to carry out its air toxics responsibilities; and (6) EPA lacks sufficient data to measure vehicle I/M programs compliance because many states do not provide comprehensive program data and EPA does not audit programs frequently enough to obtain the needed data.