Environmental Technology: Comments on S. 2632, the 'National Environmental Technologies Agency Act'

GAO discussed proposed legislation that would establish a National Environmental Technologies Agency to promote the development of environmentally safe technologies and to improve U.S. competitiveness in meeting the growing global demand for such technologies. GAO noted that: (1) without innovative technologies, the dimensions and potential costs of cleaning up the environment may be cost-prohibitive and may impact U.S. ability to address other national needs; (2) innovative environmental technologies provide an opportunity for U.S. companies to expand in both domestic and foreign markets, and the current world market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 5 to 6 percent, reaching $300 billion by the year 2000; (3) the Department of Energy (DOE) did not establish clear performance goals and other key management tools before implementing its technology development program for environmental cleanup; (4) the bill would assign DOE the responsibility to identify and promote innovative environmental technologies; (5) the bill would require DOE to coordinate U.S. planning and exchange of technological information relating to environmental restoration and protection; (6) the bill would require that any funded research project be subject to merit review and be shown to have scientific and technical merit; and (7) the bill would create a revolving fund to provide loans, grants, and other financial assistance to carry out its purposes.