Department of Defense Hazardous Waste Management
T-NSIAD-88-4: Published: Nov 5, 1987. Publicly Released: Nov 5, 1987.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
GAO discussed the Department of Defense's (DOD) compliance with environmental protection laws through its hazardous waste generation, storage, and disposal management, and disposal site cleanup efforts. GAO found that: (1) although it had previously cited storage and disposal problems at 12 installations, delayed disposal, slow construction of storage facilities, and limited hazardous waste reduction still existed; (2) the DOD Guam installations did not comply with the regulations because of their inability to dispose of waste; (3) although it provided a siting of a waste storage facility at Kelly Air Force Base (AFB), public hearings on environmental safety delayed the final permit; and (4) Tinker AFB initiated actions to reduce its waste generation and instituted preventive disposal controls. GAO also found that: (1) DOD created a program to identify hazardous waste disposal sites, assess their potential for contaminating the environment, and take appropriate corrective actions; (2) 6 of the 18 installations reviewed had problems which earlier regulatory involvement could have minimized; and (3) most regulatory agencies still had limited involvement in the program. In addition, GAO found that: (1) during a toxic oil spill at the Guam naval installation, the Navy did not provide personnel with adequate protective equipment, medical monitoring, hazardous substance handling and response, or storage facilities with curbs to prevent spill runoff; and (2) although the Air Force has begun cleanup efforts of groundwater contamination around its plant, regulatory agencies' failure to initiate timely investigative actions has caused a delay in cleanup of the total site.
Mar 1, 2021
Man-Made Chemicals and Potential Health Risks:
EPA Has Completed Some Regulatory-Related Actions for PFASGAO-21-37: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Mar 1, 2021.
Jan 22, 2021
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Natural Resources and Environment
- Air Quality
- Climate Change Funding and Management
- Climate Change Response
- Department of Energy's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management - High Risk Issue
- Disaster Assistance
- Economic Sanctions
- Electricity Markets, Grid Security and Resilience
- Farm Programs
- Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands
- Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks - High Risk Issue
- Management of Federal Oil and Gas Resources - High Risk Issue
- Managing Federal Lands and Waters
- National Flood Insurance Program - High Risk Issue
- Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Oil, Natural Gas, and Alternative Fuels
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Toxic Chemicals - High Risk Issue
- Tribal and Native American Issues
- Understanding Climate Change
- U.S. Arctic Interests
- U.S. Government's Environmental Liability - High Risk Issue
- Water Quality and Protection
- Wildland Fire Management
Explore our other Key Issues here
