Superfund: Stronger EPA-State Relationship Can Improve Cleanups and Reduce Costs
RCED-97-77
Published: Apr 24, 1997. Publicly Released: May 28, 1997.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) the lessons learned from five states that have had significant experience in leading Superfund cleanups; and (2) how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can help to ensure that interested states are successful in their efforts to take on increased Superfund responsibilities.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should direct the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response to work with state representatives in developing criteria identifying the requirements and circumstances under which states may be granted additional responsibilities to clean up NPL sites. The criteria development process should involve state representation and its outcome should be consistent with EPA's expressed desire to encourage greater state responsibilities in NPL cleanups. |
Closed – Implemented
The recommended criteria were developed and incorporated in the agency's May 1998 "Plan to Enhance the Role of States and Tribes in the Superfund Program."
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should direct the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response to work with state representatives in developing guidance on how EPA regions and states can best divide NPL cleanup responsibilities. The guidance should recommend use of an explicit agreement articulating each side's responsibilities and should reinforce the agency's stated goal of eliminating duplication of effort by EPA and state regulators overseeing NPL cleanups. |
Closed – Implemented
The recommended guidance, including the text of a model agreement to be used by EPA regional offices and states, was included in the agency's May 1998 "Plan to Enhance the Role of States and Tribes in the Superfund Program."
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should direct the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response to work with state representatives to develop a detailed strategy indicating how the agency will meet the states' technical and resource needs so that they may take a lead role in successfully cleaning up Superfund sites. Among the kinds of technical support such a plan might include are: (1) providing technical assistance at specific sites; (2) identifying ways to accelerate research on innovative technologies; and (3) serving as a national clearinghouse for information on new cleanup technologies and other best practices. Among the potential elements of its plan to help address the states' resource constraints are strategies to: (1) use federal funds efficiently to assist state-led NPL cleanups; (2) continue leading certain NPL cleanups beyond the capability of individual states; and (3) encourage cooperation by recalcitrant primarily responsible parties (PRPs) with state authorities by serving as a backup regulatory authority. |
Closed – Implemented
An EPA-state workgroup has developed the strategy, which was published in the agency's May 1998 "Plan to Enhance the Role of States and Tribes in the Superfund Program."
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