Superfund: Further EPA Management Action Is Needed To Reduce Legal
Expenses (Letter Report, 01/13/94, GAO/RCED-94-90).

Parties responsible for pollution at hazardous waste sites are liable
for any cleanup costs.  Responsible parties also incur costs, especially
legal expenses, when they allocate responsibilities among themselves,
settle with the government, or litigate liability for cleanups.  At some
sites, hundreds and even thousands of parties are involved in allocating
cleanup costs and litigating liability.  To reduce these costs, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has several tools at its disposal,
ranging from expedited settlements for small-volume waste contributors
to the use of neutral third parties to help resolve liability and cost
allocation problems.  This report (1) determines how often EPA has used
these tools, (2) identifies any impediments to their use, and (3)
assesses EPA's recent actions to increase use of these tools.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-94-90
     TITLE:  Superfund: Further EPA Management Action Is Needed To 
             Reduce Legal Expenses
      DATE:  01/13/94
   SUBJECT:  Legal fees
             Claims settlement
             Cost control
             Environmental monitoring
             Pollution control
             Waste management
             Liability (legal)
             Administrative remedies
             Hazardous substances
             Litigation
IDENTIFIER:  Superfund Program
             EPA National Priorities List
             EPA Strategic Targeted Activities for Results System
             Superfund Comprehensive Accomplishments Plan
             
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