Biennial Hazardous Waste Data: Opportunity for Improvement

#7100114

Inspector General Division Conducting the Audit:
Headquarters Audit Division
Washington, DC

Regions Covered:
Regions 4, 5, 7

Program Office Involved:
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
- PURPOSE
- BACKGROUND
- SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
- MANAGEMENT CONTROLS
- PRIOR AUDIT COVERAGE
- AGENCY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE BIENNIAL REPORTING PROCESS
CHAPTER 2 - THE BIENNIAL REPORT PROCESS AND BRS ARE COMPLEX
- BIENNIAL REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS NEED TO BE STREAMLINED
- CODES UNIQUE TO THE BIENNIAL REPORT NEED TO BE REASSESSED
- DATA ARE NOT EASILY OBTAINED FROM BRS
- EXPANDED USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO BE PURSUED
- ACCESS TO BRS FILES NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- AGENCY COMMENTS AND OIG EVALUATION
CHAPTER 3 - IMPACT OF EPA's 1997 BIENNIAL REPORT CHANGES
- WHY WASTE MINIMIZATION REPORTING IS IMPORTANT
- 1997 BIENNIAL REPORT ICR MAY NOT MEET WASTE MINIMIZATION STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
- WASTE MINIMIZATION INSTRUCTIONS WERE DIFFICULT FOR FACILITIES TO UNDERSTAND
- AGENCY CONCLUDED THAT HAZARDOUS WASTE CAPACITY IS ADEQUATE
- WASTEWATER CAN SKEW HAZARDOUS WASTE DATA
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- AGENCY COMMENTS AND OIG EVALUATION
APPENDIX I - AGENCY RESPONSE TO DRAFT REPORT
APPENDIX II - REPORT DISTRIBUTION

Created April 29, 1997