Superfund

Progress, Problems, and Reauthorization Issues Gao ID: T-RCED-93-27 April 21, 1993

The Superfund program, originally envisioned as a short-term effort to clean up a limited number of hazardous waste sites, has escalated into an expensive, contentious, and long-term effort involving potentially thousands of sites. Although the Superfund program has made progress, especially in responding to emergency releases of hazardous substances and forcing polluters to clean up contamination, little of its primary purpose has been achieved: the permanent cleanup of major hazardous waste sites. This testimony discusses the following questions: How can the pace of site cleanups be accelerated? How can Superfund costs be better controlled? How effective are completed cleanups in protecting human health and the environment? What is the appropriate level of federal investment to address the risks posed by hazardous waste sites?



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.