[open quote]Technology gap[close quote] said to slow cleanups

Journal Article · Wed May 12 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Chemical Week; (United States)

OSTI ID:6280500

Begley, R

Superfund cleanup standards are so unrealistic that in many cases no technology exists to meet them, and the program discourages development and use of innovative and efficient cleanup technologies in favor of costly and impractical one-size-fits-all approaches. That message was delivered by chemical industry representatives to a Congressional panel looking into the Superfund [open quotes]technology gap.[close quotes] [open quotes]The technologies used today are driven by unreasonable exposure assumptions and risk models,[close quotes] says Michael A. Pierle, corporate v.p./environment, safety, and health with Monsanto (St. Louis). [open quotes]There are cases where there simply is no technology available to get the job done.[close quotes] Worse, [open quotes]there has been little advancement in development of demonstrated technologies[close quotes] since Superfund was established 12 years ago, he says, and [open quotes]some of the technologies used today are excessively expensive for the results achieved.[close quotes] Pierle spoke before the House Science, Space, and Technology investigations subcommittee. Disincentives to developing new technology include regulatory requirements and liability concerns. [open quotes]Contractors are not enthusiastic about bidding on an unproven technology,[close quotes] Pierle says, and potentially responsible parties fear they will have to pay twice if a new technology fails and a traditional cleanup is needed. Pierle recommends a thorough risk evaluation that includes [open quotes]planned and likely future use[close quotes] of a site.

• OSTI ID: 6280500
• Journal Information: Chemical Week; (United States), Vol. 152:18; ISSN 0009-272X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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