Chemical Accident Safety: EPA's Responsibilities for Preparedness, Response, and Prevention
PEMD-96-3
Published: Jun 27, 1996. Publicly Released: Jun 27, 1996.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) role in implementing a national chemical accident safety policy, focusing on: (1) trends in chemical accident occurrence and impact; (2) EPA chemical accident preparedness activities; (3) the effectiveness of EPA response to chemical accidents; and (4) EPA actions to help prevent chemical accidents.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should initiate improvements in prevention activities by increasing the extent to which the "lessons learned" from risk management planning efforts are conveyed to industry, state and local government, and the public. |
The agency made no specific changes, but believes it already was developing programs to share "lessons learned," which it will continue.
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should work with industry, state and local government, and the public to stress the importance of how this information can be used to facilitate the prevention of accidents. |
The agency made no specific changes, but believes the new accident prevention programs at OSHA and EPA will have the intended effect.
|
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
Accident preventionChemical accidentsEmergency preparednessEmergency responseEnvironmental lawEnvironmental policiesstate relationsGovernment information disseminationHazardous substancesInteragency relationsInternetPublic relations