Drinking Water:
Key Quality Assurance Program Is Flawed and Underfunded
T-RCED-93-31: Published: Apr 19, 1993. Publicly Released: Apr 19, 1993.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
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GAO discussed its report on state sanitary survey programs, focusing on: (1) whether state sanitary surveys are comprehensive enough to determine if public water systems are capable of providing good-quality drinking water; and (2) what the survey results reveal about the operation and condition of water systems nationwide. GAO noted that: (1) many states did not adequately conduct, document, or interpret sanitary survey results; (2) 45 states did not evaluate one or more of the 14 major components that the Environmental Protection Agency recommended for evaluation; (3) state documentation of survey results is needed so that state officials can assess survey adequacy and inspectors can follow up on detected problems; (4) the most frequent deficiency cited in state surveys was inadequate cross-connection control programs; (5) most public water systems appeared safe, but many systems had deficiencies that could affect the quality of drinking water; (6) many state surveys revealed recurring problems with equipment maintenance and records, deficiencies in water systems' maintenance and operations, and inadequate protection of water sources; and (7) the acute funding shortage in the drinking water program is a major contributor to the problems affecting state sanitary survey programs.
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.
Nov 20, 2020
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Crude Oil Markets:
Effects of the Repeal of the Crude Oil Export BanGAO-21-118: Published: Oct 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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EPA Grants to Tribes:
Additional Actions Needed to Effectively Address Tribal Environmental ConcernsGAO-21-150: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
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