Environmental Protection Agency and State Hazardous Waste Management Programs

The problem of what to do with hazardous waste is growing. Hazardous waste must be treated and disposed of somewhere. Without an adequate national environmentally sound disposal and treatment capacity, the intent of current legislation to safeguard public health and the environment cannot be achieved. A more effective Federal and State role is necessary to assure that facilities will be available to handle the wastes generated. Currently, neither the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor the States have the resources necessary to operate and manage a program for the control of hazardous waste disposal. The funding authorized and needed for program implementation has not been appropriated and EPA has not been able to provide the financial and technical assistance promised to the States. Long-term funding is needed and there is no current legislation which provides for EPA administrative costs or for EPA grants to the States after fiscal year 1979. No adequate assessment has been made of the number and location of existing and closed sites currently threatening public health and the environment. Funding hazardous waste programs and siting disposal facilities are the two most pressing problems which must be resolved if legislation is to be effective in protecting public health and the environment. The development of fee systems at the Federal and State levels would help resolve future funding problems.