Hazardous Waste

Citizens in Caldwell County, North Carolina, charged for years that a hazardous waste treatment facility in the area had been operating unsafely, harming both the environment and the health of workers and local residents. The facility, run by Caldwell Systems, Inc., was shut down completely in 1989 by court order. This report focuses on whether the facility was complying with federal laws requiring facilities to safely treat and dispose of waste, limit air pollution, and protect workers. GAO discusses how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the state of North Carolina tried to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulations; how Caldwell Systems, Inc., complied with those laws and regulations; EPA policies and procedures for disposing of hazardous waste from sites being cleaned up under the Superfund Act; and Navy policies and procedures for disposing of hazardous waste at Caldwell Systems, Inc.

GAO found that: (1) federal and state regulators did not adequately ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; (2) regular inspection of the facility did not alter a pattern of federal environmental law violations; (3) reasons for the limited environmental and worker safety protection standards included the facility's interim status, less stringent air pollution laws, and a low-hazard facility designation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; (4) the Environmental Protection Agency and the Navy contracted for hazardous waste disposal and incineration at the facility, while deeming it compliant with laws and regulations; and (5) since the facility's closing, significant federal changes have been instituted to ensure environmental and worker safety protection.