United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-11-20 monographic deposited born digital 39 p. GA 1.13:RCED-97-10 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10 P0b002ee1803a5b86 f:rc97010 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10 RCED-97-10 Claims settlement Environmental monitoring Renewable natural resources Environment evaluation Damage claims Hazardous substances Pollution control Environmental law Liability (legal) Government collections EPA National Priorities List Superfund Program Texas Letter Report RCED Under federal law, parties responsible for the release of hazardous substances are liable for damages to natural resources caused by the release. GAO reported in April 1996 on settlements for the five largest federal natural resource damage cases. (See GAO/RCED-96-71.) This follow-up report finds that settlements have been reached at an additional 62 sites as of July 1996, resulting in $33.8 million in awards to federal trustees. About 80 percent of the funds awarded had been collected. Of the collected funds, about 19 percent had been allocated for performing damage assessments, planning, or restoration. One site had been restored, and seven were in various stages of restoration. The trustees' use of the remaining 81 percent of the collected money was awaiting the completion of restoration plans or other activities, such as cleanups or settlements with other responsible parties at the same site. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10/pdf/GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10.pdf GAO/RCED-97-10 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-97-10 Letter Report GAO/RCED-97-10; Superfund: Status of Selected Federal Natural Resource Damage Settlements; Claims settlement Environmental monitoring Renewable natural resources Environment evaluation Damage claims Hazardous substances Pollution control Environmental law Liability (legal) Government collections EPA National Priorities List Superfund Program Texas