GAO report finds EPA's implementation 
of the air toxics program inadequate

WASHINGTON (08/03/06) -- A report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes the U.S. EPA's implementation of the Clean Air Act air toxics program has been inadequate, with substantial opportunities to reduce emissions of cancer-causing air toxics remaining undressed by the EPA. The report, requested by Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT), Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) and 12 other Members of Congress, was intended to assess the EPA's implementation of this key Clean Air Act program. 

The GAO report states that, "While EPA has made some progress in implementing its air toxics program mandated by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, most of its regulatory actions were completed late and major aspects of the program have still not been addressed... The agency lacks a comprehensive strategy for completing the unmet requirements or estimates of resources necessary to do so."

According to GAO: "95 percent of all Americans face an increased likelihood of developing cancer from air toxics---pollutants such as benzene, asbestos and chlorine-- by breathing outdoor air (Page 1); 

"EPA faces significant challenges in implementing the air toxics program, many of which stem from its relatively low priority within the agency. Importantly the agency lacks as comprehensive strategy for managing its implementation of the remaining air toxics requirements." (Page 5); 

Of 493 requirements applicable to the agency, only 12 have been met on time; 202 were met late and 89 have not been met and are past due. Another 150 requirements remain unmet, although not yet due. (Page 16);

"As a result of the limited progress in implementing these requirements, EPA has not reduced human health risks from air toxics to the extent and in the time frames envisioned in the Act" (Page 15); 

"While EPA may have been driven by certain deadlines in the act, some state and local officials said that the agency has chosen to focus on certain large stationary sources even though the EPA's data suggests that emission from small stationary sources and mobile sources may pose greater risks." (Page 36). 

The GAO report is available online.