Blending of Hazardous Waste With Fuel Products

GAO discussed its investigations into allegations that fuel products illegally blended with hazardous wastes had been exported over the road between Canada and the United States. GAO noted that: (1) interviews with enforcement officials revealed only isolated incidents where illegally-blended fuel products were transported or suspected of being transported; (2) no reliable information exists on the extent to which the alleged activities may be occurring; (3) officials expressed concern about the possible adverse environmental and health consequences associated with the illegal blending of hazardous wastes into fuel products; (4) U.S. Custom Service officials acknowledged that the opportunity exists for the transshipment of illegally blended fuels; (5) Customs officials inspect fuel shipments when they have a specific concern about compliance with U.S. laws but, typically, officials rely on information contained in shipper-prepared certificates and shipment manifests; (6) the prospective user rejected shipment of an alleged illegally blended fuel when analysis revealed that the fuel contained substances that the prospective user was prohibited from burning; and (7) environmental enforcement officials offered such suggestions for improving the ability to detect and deter the shipment and disposal of illegally blended fuel products as increasing roadside inspections of trucks transporting hazardous wastes, increasing user accountability, and increasing the number of federal and state regulatory and enforcement personnel to monitor and enforce compliance with hazardous waste regulations.