Hazardous Waste: Funding of Postclosure Liabilities Remains Uncertain
RCED-90-64
Published: Jun 01, 1990. Publicly Released: Jun 01, 1990.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO studied options for managing liabilities associated with hazardous waste disposal facilities after closure.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should develop and implement a strategy to address the long-term effectiveness of current hazardous waste disposal requirements so that decisions can be made about postclosure liability funding mechanisms. Such a strategy should outline the activities EPA needs to undertake and complete to assess postclosure risks, require evaluations of actions to reduce such risks as extended postclosure care, and assess available alternatives for funding postclosure liabilities. The strategy should also identify required EPA resources and establish time frames for completing such activities. |
EPA does not plan to develop a detailed strategy as recommended by GAO. However, it has finalized the liner/leak detection rule, which addresses shorter-term risks.
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | The Administrator, EPA, should periodically report to Congress its progress in obtaining the necessary data on the effectiveness of current disposal requirements and, as information becomes available, be prepared to take interim measures to provide greater public protection until more definitive data are developed. |
EPA takes interim measures to protect the public when releases occur from RCRA facilities. Fiscal year 1992 operating guidance requires EPA regions to do stabilization evaluation after initial assessment, but EPA is not periodically reporting to Congress its progress in obtaining data on the effectiveness of current disposal requirements.
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Topics
Environmental policiesHazardous substancesHealth hazardsLiability (legal)Liability insurancePollution controlSolid waste managementSolid waste treatmentTrust fundsWaste disposalHazardous waste disposal