Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO determined the extent to which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been carrying out its responsibilities under the Superfund program. HHS responsibilities under Superfund include: (1) information collection, analysis, and management; (2) provision of medical services, including care, testing, and research; and (3) development of standards to protect hazardous waste workers.
GAO found that HHS: (1) is developing plans to establish three required registries of hazardous-substance-related diseases, but has not developed a registry of persons exposed to toxic substances; (2) is planning to upgrade its inventory of information on the health effects of hazardous substances, but has not because of funding decreases; (3) has contracted for the development of a complete registry of areas closed due to contamination by toxic substances; (4) has conducted some biological testing at emergency sites; (5) has several studies in progress regarding the health effects of hazardous substances, but had only completed one such study since Superfund's implementation; and (6) has experienced delays in the establishment of safety standards for hazardous waste workers. In addition, GAO found that HHS has made limited progress with Superfund implementation because of: (1) funding delays and reductions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which coordinates the Superfund budget; and (2) staffing limitations within HHS.
