Superfund:
Information on Operations and Maintenance Activities and Costs
T-RCED-95-201: Published: May 23, 1995. Publicly Released: May 23, 1995.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed Superfund operations and maintenance (O&M) activities and costs, focusing on the: (1) extent to which O&M activities are necessary at National Priority List sites; (2) projected costs of O&M activities; and (3) Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) actions to ensure that sites requiring O&M continue to protect human health and the environment. GAO noted that: (1) O&M activities and costs are directly determined by the cleanup approach used at the sites; (2) long-term actions are necessary as a result of the cleanup remedy chosen for 62 percent of the sites reviewed; (3) O&M actions for these sites include controlling erosion and operating groundwater treatment systems and may continue indefinitely; (4) O&M costs could total $33 billion to $41 billion nationwide over the next four decades and O&M costs average $12 million per cleanup; (5) EPA has concentrated on evaluating and cleaning up hazardous sites rather than essential health and environmental monitoring; and (6) EPA has not completed more than 120 required reviews of Superfund sites, and is not aware of worsening conditions at many sites.
Mar 1, 2021
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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
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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.
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