Superfund: Natural Resource Damage Claims (Testimony, 05/11/95,
GAO/T-RCED-95-182).

This testimony focuses on settlements for damages to natural resources
under the Superfund statute.  Concerns have arisen that monetary damages
for natural resources, such as wetlands and wildlife habitat, caused by
releases of hazardous substances could add billions to the cost of
Superfund cleanups and impose heavy burdens on industry and the federal
budget.  To date, natural resource damage settlements have been
relatively low--accounting for a small percentage of what responsible
parties have agreed to pay for Superfund cleanups.  However, federal and
state officials have alerted GAO to three future settlements that could
involve hundreds of millions of dollars.  They have also said that there
may be other instances in which claims will exceed $50 million per
geographic area.  Further, the federal government faces the potential
for large amounts in damages at some of its most contaminated
facilities.

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

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-95-182
     TITLE:  Superfund: Natural Resource Damage Claims
      DATE:  05/11/95
   SUBJECT:  Hazardous substances
             Waste disposal
             Toxic substances
             Natural resources
             Damage claims
             Claims settlement
             Future budget projections
             Environmental policies
IDENTIFIER:  Washington
             California
             Colorado
             Idaho
             New York
             New Jersey
             Wyoming
             Los Angeles County (CA)
             Coeur D'Alene River Basin (ID)
             Clark Fork River Basin (MT)
             Minnesota
             Superfund Program
             Utah
             Montana
             
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