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Environmental Protection: Interim Actions to Better Control Cement Kiln Dust

RCED-95-192 Published: Aug 14, 1995. Publicly Released: Aug 30, 1995.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decisionmaking process with respect to regulating cement kiln dust, focusing on: (1) EPA priorities in making its kiln dust determination; (2) whether EPA is authorized to modify hazardous waste management requirements in regulating cement kiln dust; (3) whether EPA believes that cement kilns burning hazardous waste should be regulated the same as those not burning hazardous waste; and (4) whether interim actions can be taken to control cement kiln dust.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should provide to EPA regional officials and state enforcement officials the risk-screening and site-specific risk-modeling information developed during its study of cement kiln dust so they can use this information to determine whether interim actions are needed to protect human health and the environment.
Closed – Implemented
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) developed a plan for announcing the availability of the risk-screening database. On November 9, 1995, OSWER sent letters regarding the plan to officials in EPA's regional offices and state agencies, notifying them of the database and how to obtain copies of industry-wide risk-screening information.

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Topics

Air pollution controlEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental policiesHazardous substancesHealth hazardsPollution monitoringPrioritizingRegulatory agenciesToxic substancesWaste managementHazardous wastes