Pollution Control

Information on Chemical Industry Safety Equipment Expenditures Gao ID: RCED-86-70FS December 20, 1985

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on capital and operating expenditures for pollution control equipment for the chemical and allied products industry.

GAO provided information that was compiled by the Department of Commerce for the years 1977 through 1983 for the United States and seven states. GAO noted that: (1) it did not verify the accuracy of the data; and (2) accidental releases of hazardous pollutants accounted for only a fraction of the expenditures identified. GAO found that nationwide, the industry incurred over $2 billion in pollution abatement operating costs and over $395 million in pollution abatement capital costs in 1983. The industry's capital costs for pollution abatement have been decreasing since 1977, while its operating costs for pollution abatement have been steadily increasing.



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