Superfund

Congressional debate over reauthorization of Superfund may result in change in such areas as how sites are cleaned up and how responsibility is divided between the federal and state governments. These changes, in turn, may call for modifications to Superfund's research and development efforts. In past and ongoing work, GAO has assessed an important component of this effort--the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) promotion of innovative technologies at Superfund sites. GAO testified that EPA has made progress in using innovative technology at Superfund sites, but these technologies are still used at only a relatively small number of locations. Greater use of new technologies, which can reduce cleanup costs, has been prevented by such factors as regulatory standards, the absence of track records for these technologies, and uncertainties about future regulatory standards. Even after Congress reauthorizes Superfund, it is likely that these challenges to the development and use of new technologies will continue.