Superfund: Greater EPA Enforcement and Reporting Are Needed to Enhance Cleanup at DOD Sites
Abstract
Prior to the 1980s and the passage of environmental legislationparticularly the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act(CERCLA) governing environmental cleanupDepartment of Defense (DOD)activities contaminated millions of acres of soil and water on and near DOD sites. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which enforces CERCLA, places the most contaminated sites on its National Priorities List (NPL) and requires that they be cleaned up in accordance with CERCLA. EPA has placed 140 DOD sites on the NPL. Disputes have recently arisen between EPA and DOD on agreements to clean up some of these sites. In addition, most sites were placed on the NPL before 1991;since fiscal year 2000, EPA has added five DOD sites. In this context, we agreed to determine (1) the extent of EPAs oversight during assessment and cleanup at DOD sites and (2)why EPA has proposed fewer DOD sites for the NPL since the early1990s. GAO interviewed officials at EPA and DOD and reviewed site file documentation at four EPA regions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- AD1153111
Entities
People
- John B. Stephenson
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office