Cleaning hazardous waste sites

Article Abstract:

While very few hazardous waste sites in the United States have been completely cleaned up, cleaning activities are expected to increase. Trained scientists and engineers will be needed to plan and direct the massive project. The entire cleanup process is expected to take 30 years and cost $500 billion; funding will be split equally by the government and private parties who dumped the wastes. The most expensive sites to clean will be abandoned sites, which come under the Superfund program. Government and privately owned dump sites will be costly as well. Where ground water is contaminated, 20 to 40 years of treatment may be necessary. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has performed poorly so far in its mission as the primary government agency involved with hazardous waste cleanup. Over 31,000 inactive toxic waste dumps have been located since 1980, and while some have been put on a priority list, only 43 sites have been completely cleaned up. The delay from site identification to the beginning of cleanup has averaged seven to nine years. The EPA's shortcomings are apparently due to lack of money and technical personnel. Plans are underway to supplement EPA funding with private monies and to increase staffing. The Department of Energy, responsible for 3,700 sites, is expected to launch an energetic, creative program. But the work that lies ahead is staggering, as demonstrated by certain sites that absorbed pollutants to depths measured in miles over a period of 40 years.

Laws, regulations and rules, Finance, Environmental aspects, Pollution, United States. Environmental Protection Agency, Hazardous substances, Maintenance and repair, Superfund, Hazardous waste sites, editorial

---

Flaws in risk assessment

Article Abstract:

EPA protocols for chemical risk assessment studies of laboratory animals have been criticized for breeding and feeding practices. Steadily increasing body weight and tumor incidence in control groups of rats and mice due to genetic drift and overfeeding compromises the value of test results.

Standards, Evaluation, Food and nutrition, Laboratory animals, Health risk assessment, Animal models in research, Animal research models

---

Low-level radioactive waste

Article Abstract:

Opponents have delayed the construction of a low-level radioactive waste disposal site in California's Ward Valley by using data from the unofficial 'Wilshire report.' The safety of the project is well documented in other reports. It should be built without further delay.

Reports, California, Waste management, Radioactive waste disposal in the ground, Underground radioactive waste disposal

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Taking apart the bomb. Little dish TV. Private eyes
• Abstracts: Turning phone lines into TV lines. Space calls. Imagining space war
• Abstracts: Meta-virus; breaking the hardware species barrier. Cracking the U.S. code. Symmetry breaking
• Abstracts: Sorting out cellphones. Connecting China. High finance, down and dirty
• Abstracts: New hope for vaccine against schistosomiasis. A perspective on AIDS vaccines. Hope for AIDS vaccines

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.