Mercury in Fish, Bed Sediment, and Water from Streams Across the United States, 1998–2005

USGS / by Barbara C. Scudder, Lia C. Chasar, Dennis A. Wentz, Nancy J. Bauch, Mark E. Brigham, Patrick W. Moran, and David P. Krabbenhoft
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5109/
Scientists detected mercury contamination in every fish sampled in 291 streams across the country, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study released today.

Preliminary Toxics Release Data from EPA

Toxics Release Inventory Program, US EPA
http://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri08/early_data/indexearlyhome.html
[Website]  EPA has a new strategy to speed up public access to information on the release of toxic chemicals in communities across the United States. The Agency is providing access to the most recent Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) information. The annual reporting deadline was July 1, 2009. The 2008 data [...]

Superfund : Litigation Has Decreased and EPA Needs Better Information on Site Cleanup and Cost Issues to Estimate Future Program Funding Requirements

Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09656.pdf
[Summary]  Under the Superfund program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) places the most seriously contaminated sites on the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA may compel site cleanups by parties responsible for contamination, or conduct cleanups itself and have these parties reimburse its costs. The program is funded by a trust fund, which is [...]

Identification of Priority Classes of Facilities for Development of CERCLA Section 108(b) Financial Responsibility Requirements

EPA
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/financialresponsibility/cercla108b_07-10-09.pdf
This notice by the EPA under 40 CFR Part 320 identifies hard rock mining as a regulatory priority. “EPA is by this notice identifying classes of facilities within the hardrock mining industry for which the Agency will first develop financial responsibility requirements under CERCLA Section 108(b). For purposes of this notice, hardrock mining facilities include [...]

The Federal Government’s Responsibilities and Liabilities Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act

Statement of Kim Cawley, Chief, Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit, Congressional Budget Office before the Committee on the Budget U.S. House of Representatives, July 16, 2009
http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=10456

Chemical Regulation : Options for Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Toxic Substances Control Act

Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09428t.pdf?source=ra
[From summary]  Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 1976, authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to obtain information on the risks of industrial chemicals and to control those that EPA determines pose an unreasonable risk. However, EPA does not have sufficient chemical assessment information to determine whether it should establish [...]

Environmental Protection Agency : Major Management Challenges

Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09434.pdf?source=ra
[From summary]  GAO was asked to identify challenges at EPA that hinder its ability to implement its programs effectively, based on prior GAO work. These challenges include (1) improving agencywide management, (2) transforming EPA’s processes for assessing and controlling toxic chemicals, (3) improving implementation of the Clean Air Act, (4) reducing pollutionin the [...]

Coal Ash : the Hidden Story How Industry and the EPA Failed To Stop a Growing Environmental Disaster

Center for Public Integrity / by Kristen Lombardi
http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/1144/
The dangers of coal ash were largely hidden from public view until December, when a dam holding a billion gallons of the waste collapsed in Eastern Tennessee. But what happened there represents just a small slice of the potential threat from coal ash, according to a new Center [...]

Nuclear Waste Disposal : Alternatives to Yucca Mountain

Congressional Research Service
http://opencrs.com/document/R40202
[From summary]  Congress designated Yucca Mountain, NV, as the nation’s sole candidate site for a permanent high-level nuclear waste repository in 1987, following years of controversy over the site-selection process. Over the strenuous objections of the State of Nevada, the Department of Energy (DOE) submitted a license application for the proposed Yucca Mountain [...]

EPA Can Improve Implementation of the Risk Management Program for Airborne Chemical Releases

US EPA, Office of Inspector General / Report contributors: Rick Beusse Hilda Canes Garduño Bao Chuong Jim Hatfield Erica Hauck Rebecca Matichuk
PDF: Program for Airborne Chemical Releases
[From document] What We Found: EPA can improve its program management and oversight to better assure that facilities covered by the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program submit or [...]