Toxic Substances:
Status of EPA's Reviews of Chemicals Under the Chemical Testing Program
RCED-92-31FS: Published: Oct 31, 1991. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 1991.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided detailed information on 16 of 22 chemicals tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for health and environmental effects, focusing on: (1) testing and review time frames; (2) EPA test data reviews; and (3) EPA actions in response to its findings.
GAO found that: (1) as of June 1991, EPA had completed its review of test results for 16 of 22 chemicals which met data submission requirements; (2) EPA plans no further action on 7 of the 16 chemicals with negative test results; (3) despite test results indicating potential adverse effects, EPA plans no further action on an eighth chemical because its exposure to people or the environment was low; (4) four of the eight remaining chemicals showed adverse effects and EPA referred those chemicals to other agencies and EPA offices for possible regulatory action; (5) EPA was planning additional testing for two other chemicals that did not indicate potential adverse effects, but were of sufficient concern to warrant testing; (6) EPA was waiting for the results of further ongoing testing before deciding what action to take on the final two chemicals; (7) from their nomination for testing through the completion of EPA reviews, the average time required for testing the 16 completed chemicals was 8 years; and (8) when the industry does not agree with the testing plan and time frames, EPA can issue a final test rule, under which industry must conduct the testing program according to EPA specifications.
Jan 22, 2021
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
Information on the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability ProgramGAO-21-240R: Published: Jan 22, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 22, 2021.
Jan 19, 2021
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Chemical Assessments:
Annual EPA Survey Inconsistent with Leading Practices in Program ManagementGAO-21-156: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2021.
Jan 15, 2021
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Environmental Liabilities:
NASA's Reported Financial Liabilities Have Grown, and Several Factors Contribute to Future UncertaintiesGAO-21-205: Published: Jan 15, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 15, 2021.
Jan 13, 2021
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Nuclear Waste:
Congressional Action Needed to Clarify a Disposal Option at West Valley Site in New YorkGAO-21-115: Published: Jan 13, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 13, 2021.
Jan 7, 2021
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Hanford Cleanup:
DOE's Efforts to Close Tank Farms Would Benefit from Clearer Legal Authorities and CommunicationGAO-21-73: Published: Jan 7, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 7, 2021.
Dec 18, 2020
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Drinking Water:
EPA Could Use Available Data to Better Identify Neighborhoods at Risk of Lead ExposureGAO-21-78: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020. -
Recycling:
Building on Existing Federal Efforts Could Help Address Cross-Cutting ChallengesGAO-21-87: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 9, 2020
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Environmental Protection:
Action Needed to Ensure EPA's Enforcement and Compliance Activities Support Its Strategic GoalsGAO-21-82: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020. -
Oil and Gas:
Onshore Competitive and Noncompetitive Lease RevenuesGAO-21-138: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020.
Dec 7, 2020
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Air Pollution:
Opportunities to Better Sustain and Modernize the National Air Quality Monitoring SystemGAO-21-38: Published: Nov 12, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 7, 2020.
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