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WASTE RESEARCH STRATEGY
Citation:
Blaney*, B. WASTE RESEARCH STRATEGY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-98/154, 1999.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The Waste Research Strategy covers research necessary to support both the proper management of solid and hazardous wastes and the effective remediation of contaminated waste sites. This research includes improving the assessment of existing environmental risks, as well as developing more cost-effective ways to reduce those risks. Prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), the strategy responds to two major legislative mandates and large programs within the EPA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or "Superfund") and their amendments.
Waste research is a priority for EPA because of the risks posed by wastes and the high costs of cleaning them up. The number of existing RCRA waste management facilities and contaminated waste sites is very large and their potential risks to human health may be significant because of numerous releases of contaminants to the environment. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has concluded that "uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and unplanned releases of hazardous substances that constitute emergency events are a major environmental threat to human health." Waste management and remediation also have major economic impacts. The average cost of remedial action cost alone at a Superfund site was about $9 million per site in 1996. One 1991 study concluded that over the next 30 years, the nation as a whole will spend $480 billion to $1 trillion, with a "best guess" of $750 billion, cleaning up sites.
This strategy identifies four research areas that correspond to the major waste-related environmental problems (contaminated ground water, contaminated soils and the vadose zone [the subsurface region above the ground water table], emissions from waste combustion facilities, and active waste management facilities). The strategy prioritizes research activities that ORD should undertake through Fiscal Year 2000 (FYOO). It is intended to be a "living document" and will be updated as needed to remain current with identified stakeholder needs and the state of the science in waste research. The research needs and priorities described in this document reflect decisions made in the latter half of Fiscal Year 1997 (FY97).
For more information, contact Ben Blaney via email at: blaney.ben@epamail.epa.gov
To order paper copies call: (800) 490-9198