Policy options to achieve cost effectiveness in the Superfund program
CERCLA (Superfund) is essentially a liability-based approach to finance and enforce the cleanup of hazardous waste sites that pose significant environmental or public health risks. Many question if the cost incurred for the site cleanups is proportional to public health and environmental benefits realized. The shortcomings of the program can be attributed to the lack of equity in liability distribution, program rigidity, uncertainty of information, and few incentives or opportunities for market innovation to achieve cost effectiveness, This paper attempts to identify policy approaches to achieve cost-effectiveness for implementation of the Superfund program. The issues evaluated included streamlining of the Superfund site study and evaluation processes, presumptive remedy, `team` approach to cleanup, risk management instead of risk reduction, and other policy options for Superfund program improvement. This study concludes that certain policy options may achieve cleanup cost-effectiveness, reduce uncertainty associated with site remediation, and improve financial risk estimation. The policy options proposed require some fundamental changes in the existing Superfund program. However, there appears to be general agreement on some of these changes within administrative, legislative and regulatory circles. The proposed policy options favor creation and fostering of market-based incentives and opportunities to respond to the nation`s toxic waste sites problem. These policy options would require change in the current liability interpretation, an equitable liability allocation system, and the program flexibility in conduct of the site study and remedial processes.
- OSTI ID:
- 205293
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951139--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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