Environmental Health : Opportunities for Greater Focus, Direction, and Top-Level Commitment to Children’s Health at EPA

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/pdfs/GAO-10-205?source=ra [Summary] Exposure to toxic chemicals or environmental pollutants may harm the health of the nation’s 74 million children and contribute to increases in asthma and developmental impairments. In 2007, 66 percent of children lived in counties exceeding allowable levels for at least one of the six principal air pollutants that cause … Continue reading »

Environmental Contamination : Information on the Funding and Cleanup Status of Defense Sites

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/pdfs/GAO-10-547T?source=ra [Summary] Under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP), the Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for cleaning up about 5,400 sites on military bases that have been closed under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, as well as 21,500 sites on active bases and over 4,700 formerly used defense sites … Continue reading »

Climate Change : Preliminary Observations on Geoengineering Science, Federal Efforts, and Governance Issues

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/pdfs/GAO-10-546T?source=ra [Summary] Key scientific assessments have underscored the urgency of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide to help mitigate potentially negative effects of climate change; however, many countries with significant greenhouse gas emissions, including the United States, China, and India, have not committed to binding limits on emissions to date, and carbon dioxide … Continue reading »

Climate Change : Observations on Options for Selling Emissions Allowances in a Cap-and-Trade Program

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/pdfs/GAO-10-377?source=ra [Summary] Congress is considering proposals for market-based programs to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Many proposals involve creating a cap-and-trade program, in which an overall emissions cap is set and entities covered by the program must hold tradable permits—or “allowances”— to cover their emissions. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the … Continue reading »

Superfund : Information on Cost and Other Issues Related to the Cleanup of the Federal Creosote Site

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10277.pdf [From summary] In the 1990s, creosote was discovered under a residential neighborhood in Manville, New Jersey. Creosote, a mixture of chemicals, is used to preserve wood products, such as railroad ties. Some of the chemicals in creosote may cause cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA found that creosote … Continue reading »

Vehicle Fuel Economy : NHTSA and EPA’s Partnership for Setting Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards Improved Analysis and Should Be Maintained

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10336.pdf [From summary] In May 2009, the U.S. administration announced plans to increase the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards and establish the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for vehicles. NHTSA redesigned CAFE standards for light trucks for … Continue reading »

Critical Infrastructure Protection : Update to National Infrastructure Protection Plan Includes Increased Emphasis on Risk Management and Resilience

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10296.pdf [From summary] According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there are thousands of facilities in the United States that if destroyed by a disaster could cause casualties, economic losses, or disruptions to national security.  The Homeland Security Act of 2002 gave DHS responsibility for leading and coordinating the nation’s effort … Continue reading »