HAZARDOUS WASTE: Agencies Should Take Steps to Improve Information on USDA's and Interior's Potentially Contaminated Sites
Abstract
USDA and Interior manage over 600 million acres of land, including sites contaminated from prior uses or events, such as mining or toxic spills. These lands are managed by five Interior agencies, including BLM and the National Park Service, and five USDA agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service. These agencies must identify and report to EPA certain facilities that may threaten human health or the environment and, under some circumstances, clean them up. They must also report cost estimates for addressing contamination at certain sites, called environmental liabilities. GAO was asked to review the status of USDAs and Interiors potentially contaminated sites. This report examines USDAs and Interiors (1)efforts to identify these sites, (2)funding to address the sites, (3)reported environmental liabilities, and(4) EPAs role in addressing the sites. GAO reviewed relevant laws and government accounting standards; examined agencies policies, site inventory data from September 2013 to July 2014, and financial statements; and interviewed EPA, Interior, and USDA officials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 16, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1174105
Entities
People
- J A Gmez
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office