EPA's innovative technology program for waste water treatment needs better controls
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:6588719
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which makes grants to municipalities to build sewage treatment plants, gives financial and other incentives to municipalities which use more efficient, innovative sewage treatment technologies in their plant projects. GAO reviewed 70 projects approved for innovative technology program funding in 11 states located in three EPA regions. GAO questioned whether 24 of the projects were technologically innovative; 14 projects could not be assessed because of insufficient information; and 32 projects appeared to be innovative. EPA awarded bonuses totaling $20.2 million to the projects which were questionable and $7.3 million to the projects which could not be assessed. Project engineers in two of the three regions generally did not ensure that projects were innovative. Designed to break down the barriers hindering development of innovative technology in wastewater treatment, the program has had limited success. The program does not provide sufficient incentives for consulting engineers and states to take the risk or incur the additional cost of developing innovative projects. GAO recommends several actions to improve compliance with program objectives. GAO also recommends that EPA seek to establish a demonstration program which would allow it to select promising technologies for communities willing to accept the technologies, directly fund construction and start-up costs, and evaluate operation and project results.
- Research Organization:
- General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
- OSTI ID:
- 6588719
- Report Number(s):
- GAO/RCED-84-79; ON: TI85900199
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
EVALUATION
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROCESSING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SEWAGE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
EVALUATION
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROCESSING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SEWAGE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES