Department of Environmental Conservation

Selected Operating Practices Related to the Remediation of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites (Follow-Up Review)

The Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for cleaning up sites that have been contaminated by hazardous waste. In our prior audit report 99-S-23, we examined certain aspects of the actions taken by the Department in cleaning up sites that were no longer in use. We found that, even though the funds set aside for such remediation activities (the Superfund) had nearly been exhausted, many of the contaminated sites had yet to be remediated. We also noted that residual contamination at some of the remediated sites may continue to pose a threat to the environment and to public health, and improvements were needed in the Department’s administration of remediation activities. In our follow-up review, we found that actions had been taken by the Department to implement some of the recommendations contained in our prior report. However, none of the recommendations had been fully implemented.

For a complete copy of Report 2002-F-35 click here.