ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES. Cleanup Costs from Certain DoD Operations are not Being Reported
Abstract
Although detailed information exists to identify operations requiring cleanup and to estimate the related cleanup costs at the six installations we visited, DOD does not have a comprehensive, controlled process to capture, summarize, maintain, and report this data for all operations. DOD currently has a structured process in place to compile and report site and cost data for DERP cleanups; however, the department is not using this process for all cleanup costs associated with ongoing and inactive/closed operations. Since many of the same installation personnel manage DERP and non-DERP cleanups, the current framework could be expanded to encompass both. In addition, DOD is not routinely coordinating between installation property management and environmental management personnel. Consequently, DOD is not properly maintaining its real property records or reconciling them with environmental site records. These issues exist primarily because DOD does not have adequate guidance and leadership to ensure that: (1) all future cleanup costs are identified and reported as part of an overall approach to managing all of its environmental liabilities, and (2) real property records are properly maintained and coordinated with environmental site records. As our work reveals, the guidance and procedures must be developed and implemented with effective coordination across the environmental, property management, and accounting communities. Until DOD addresses the issues discussed in this report, particularly in the areas of guidance and leadership, we cannot assure the Congress that DOD's reported environmental liabilities can be relied on for long-range budget planning decisions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA397372
Entities
People
- Jim Nussle
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office