Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) development of a mandated municipal sludge management program, focusing on: (1) the status of EPA and state municipal sludge management efforts; (2) potential obstacles to permanent program implementation; and (3) key issues concerning EPA development of technical sludge standards.

GAO found that: (1) few states were willing to fully participate in the program because of limited resources, and participating states' programs omitted key responsibilities; (2) EPA had not completed its inventories of priority sludge-generating facilities; (3) EPA did not properly enforce or approve technical sludge standards; (4) overly stringent technical standards could eliminate most beneficial sludge uses; and (5) regulatory delays and uncertainties have inhibited states' participation in the interim program and willingness to seek approval for the permanent program.