Hazardous Materials: Inadequate Safeguards Over Sales Pose Health and Environmental Dangers
NSIAD-90-70
Published: Feb 12, 1990. Publicly Released: Feb 13, 1990.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Department of Defense's (DOD) and the General Services Administration's (GSA) surplus sales policies and procedures to determine whether they attempted to prevent hazardous materials sales to buyers who could not properly handle them.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Administrator of General Services and the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with one another, should implement stronger safeguards to ensure that all buyers of hazardous materials, especially buyers of extremely hazardous materials, are: (1) aware of the dangers associated with such materials and the special handling and disposal requirements; and (2) able to handle the materials properly after the sale. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD procedures require centralized sales and expansion of description on dangers of the item and handling procedures. New preaward procedures on buyer intent and responsibility were put into effect. On February 7, 1990, GSA issued similar guidance and preaward procedures. Bidders are to file a signed statement of intent with their bid. Failure to do so results in rejection as nonresponsive.
|
| General Services Administration | The Administrator of General Services and the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with one another, should implement stronger safeguards to ensure that all buyers of hazardous materials, especially buyers of extremely hazardous materials, are: (1) aware of the dangers associated with such materials and the special handling and disposal requirements; and (2) able to handle the materials properly after the sale. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD procedures require centralized sales and expansion of description on dangers of the item and handling procedures. New preaward procedures on buyer intent and responsibility were put into effect. On February 7, 1990, GSA issued similar guidance and preaward procedures. Bidders are to file a signed statement of intent with their bids. Failure to do so will result in rejection as nonresponsive.
|
| General Services Administration | GSA should ensure that sales catalogs issued by each region include all necessary information to alert potential buyers to the hazards associated with the materials. |
Closed – Implemented
Revised sales procedures issued on February 7, 1990 effectively implement the recommendation. These include advising that material safety data sheets are available to bidders; requiring a "statement of intent" be signed with bids; providing material safety data sheets with notices of award; and requiring that hazardous materials offered for sale not be commingled with other classes of property.
|
Full Report
GAO Contacts
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Hazardous substancesInteragency relationsInternal controlsProperty disposalSafety regulationSales contractsSurplus federal propertyWaste managementHazardous materialsHazardous wastes