Millions of Dollars Could Be Saved by Implementing GAO Recommendations on Environmental Protection Agency Programs

Highlights

GAO reviewed the opportunities to realize substantial savings through legislative and administrative changes in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) water pollution control and hazardous and solid waste programs.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter	Status	Comments
Congress should consider several alternatives that would give EPA the flexibility to consider costs more closely in justifying advanced waste treatment projects.	Closed	Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Congress should amend the Clean Water Act to permit exception from the national goal of swimmable waters to recognize those situations in which waters are determined to be unswimmable because of other factors, such as heavy barge traffic, cold seasons of the year, and general appearance.	Closed	Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Congress should amend the Clean Water Act to: (1) allow for increased flexibility in meeting water quality goals in those cases where it is determined that the cost to achieve such goals is prohibitive; (2) allow EPA to fund lower cost, nonstructural, or limited structural techniques that cannot be funded under current legislation and that are not normally considered operating and maintenance costs; and (3) permit federal funding of flood projects when the flooding is caused by combined sewer systems and the solution is part of a total approach designed to minimize both pollution and flooding in the combined system.	Closed	Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Congress should amend the Clean Water Act to eliminate the mandatory requirement for secondary treatment of discharges to fresh water and to permit the EPA Administrator to grant waivers, deferrals, or modifications to this requirement when the dischargers can demonstrate that the environmental impact of secondary treatment will be minimal or insignificant.	Closed	Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Environmental Protection Agency	The EPA Administrator should encourage and facilitate consideration of co-disposal as an alternative waste disposal process by requiring that planned agency evaluations of co-disposal projects provide for developing and disseminating actual operating cost data that cognizant officials can use in evaluating disposal options.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Environmental Protection Agency	The EPA Administrator should request that the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) be amended to allow EPA to include a fee system to cover hazardous waste program costs where: (1) a state cannot or will not assume responsibility for its program; and (2) the agency is required by the act to assume responsibility for the state's program.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Environmental Protection Agency	The EPA Administrator should encourage and facilitate consideration of co-disposal as an alternative waste disposal process by requiring that states and local communities consider co-disposal technology as a possible alternative during the areawide and facilities planning process and as part of RCRA planning activities.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Environmental Protection Agency	The EPA Administrator should encourage and facilitate consideration of co-disposal as an alternative waste disposal process by establishing a construction grants funding policy which, to the extent allowed under the existing legislative authority, would provide at least the same level of funding for deserving co-disposal projects as for single-purpose, sludge-only disposal options.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Environmental Protection Agency	The EPA Administrator should develop model legislation for the establishment of fee systems for use by states in obtaining the necessary authorizations from their legislatures.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Environmental Protection Agency	The Administrator of EPA should encourage state governments and agencies to develop self-supporting funding methods, such as fee systems, for operating and carrying out hazardous waste management programs within their jurisdictions.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

See All 6 Recommendations

Full Report

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Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Cost controlEnvironmental legislationFederal fundsHazardous substancesSolid waste treatmentWaste managementWater pollution controlWater qualityHazardous wastesPollution