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RCED-85-54 1 (1985-02-06)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabexm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 


             by tile                                 approval ~-


REPORT BY THE                                         RELEASED



Comptroller General


OF THE UNITED STATES


Clearer EPA Superfund Program Policies

Should Improve Cleanup Efforts





The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responds
to the release or threatened release of hazardous
substances into the environment through its
Superfund removal and remedial programs. This
report focuses on the Superfund removal program at
the nation's worst hazardous waste sites. EPA limits
removal actions to preventing or mitigating immediate
and significant risk to humans or the environment so
that an inordinate share of the Superfund budget
would not be used on less significant sites. This policy,
however, inhibits EPA in the permanent, long-term
cleanup of waste sites. It has resulted in the worst
hazardous waste sites receiving only stopgap
cleanups, leaving hazardous substances on the
surface and requiring repeated stopgap actions at
additional cost.

EPA has proposed policy changes that would allow
more thorough surface cleanup at sites. GAO agrees
with this change but recommends that EPA include in
its policy revision a requirement that removal actions
eliminate surface hazardous substances to the extent
possible to reduce recurring threats, avoid repeated
actions, minimize Superfund expenditures, and
contribute to the permanent remedy of hazardous
waste sites.


       0III 11111 11111

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              '°                                             GAO/RCED-85-54
                                                            FEBRUARY 6, 1985


61(191

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