October 15, 2015

OIG: EPA Doesn’t Effectively Control Imports of Hazardous Waste

According to a report issued by EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on July 6, 2015, EPA is unable to confirm that all imported hazardous waste shipments reach their intended destinations. Furthermore, the agency is unable to ensure that imported shipments are received only by properly permitted facilities and to determine whether there are any lost or unaccounted for shipments. Finally, the agency lacks authority to stop shipments from coming into the country without its consent.

The OIG report recommends certain procedures to improve the monitoring and control of imported hazardous waste and also recommends that the agency seek explicit statutory authority to prevent the import of hazardous waste without prior EPA consent. The full report, entitled EPA Does Not Effectively Control or Monitor Imports of Hazardous Waste, is available online.

Note that some of the above OIG concerns and recommendations will likely be addressed in the proposed revisions to the hazardous waste export-import rules, signed on September 24, 2015 by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. EPA has provided a summary, answers to frequent questions, and a prepublication copy of that proposed rule.

McCoy and Associates has provided in-depth information to assist environmental professionals with complex compliance issues since 1982. Our seminars and publications are widely trusted by environmental professionals for their consistent quality, clarity, and comprehensiveness.

Disclaimer

Considerable care has been exercised in preparing this document; however, McCoy and Associates, Inc. makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with the publication of this information. McCoy and Associates, Inc. expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal law or regulation with which this information may conflict. McCoy and Associates, Inc. does not undertake any duty to ensure the continued accuracy of this information.

This document addresses issues of a general nature related to the federal environmental regulations. Persons evaluating specific circumstances dealing with the environmental regulations should review state and local laws and regulations, which may be more stringent than federal requirements. In addition, the assistance of a qualified professional should be enlisted to address any site-specific circumstances.