ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION: Cleanup Actions at Formerly Used Defense Sites
Scope and Methodology
The scope of this review encompassed all potentially eligible properties included in DOD’s FUDS inventory as of the end of fiscal year 2000.
To obtain information on the number of potential FUDS properties that are eligible and require or have required cleanup and on the geographic distribution, by state, of FUDS properties, we relied primarily on the Corps database of FUDS properties.
To obtain information on those FUDS properties that contain or contained ordnance and other explosive wastes, we also relied on the Corps database of FUDS properties and on a database constructed by the Corps to respond to DOD’s range survey. We then compared those databases to determine which properties were included as part of the range survey and which were not. For those that were not included, we reviewed the property name and project description information to determine if there were additional properties that could be ranges based on these descriptors.
The data in this report represent a static point in time the end of fiscal year 2000. The Corps database of FUDS properties is used by the Corps on a daily basis to plan, schedule, and monitor the FUDS program, so there are constant changes and updates. Consequently, the numbers presented in this report may vary somewhat from other published sources; however, such variations represent the changing status of individual properties and projects, not material changes in the overall program status. On an overall level and as a measure of the FUDS program’s scope and efforts, we believe that these data represent a reasonable picture of the program at the end of fiscal year 2000.
The Corps database of FUDS properties incorporates data from a previous Corps effort that did not contain all of the various categories of data in the current database. Consequently, for some properties and projects, particularly those that are no longer active, some information is dated and may not reflect current property conditions. We reviewed the Corps’ policies and procedures to verify the reliability of these data and found them to be reasonably accurate for our use. To the extent that we found material errors in the data, we worked with the Corps to correct those errors. We did not, however, attempt to independently assess the reliability of the data.
We also acquired and reviewed program documents and interviewed Corps officials from headquarters, division, and district offices to obtain information about the FUDS program. We did not ask state officials to verify or confirm the Corps data for this review. We also contacted DOD and Environmental Protection Agency officials about aspects of the FUDS program.
We conducted our review from November 2000 through May 2001 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Full Report: Environmental Contamination: Cleanup Actions at Formerly
Used Defense Sites (GAO-01-557)
GAO contacts: (Ms.) Gary L. Jones or Edward Zadjura on (202) 512-3841