Blending of Hazardous Waste With Fuel Products

GAO testified that it uncovered only isolated incidents in which fuel products illegally blended with hazardous wastes had been transported, or were suspected of being transported, over roads between the United States and Canada. Further, the consensus of officials GAO interviewed was that no one has reliable information on the extent to which such activity may be occurring. However, all these officials were concerned about the possible harmful environmental and health affects associated with the illegal blending of hazardous wastes into fuel products that are later used in the United States. U.S. Customs Service officials acknowledged that the opportunity exists for transshipment of illegally blended fuels. While Customs agents may inspect suspicious fuel shipments and other cargo, they typically rely on information contained in shipper-prepared certificates and manifests accompanying the shipments, in accordance with federal regulations. This testimony discusses an instance in which a hazardous waste fuel may have been misrepresented on its manifest by a shipper, Lilyblad Petroleum Inc.