	Background

Under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program, DOD is authorized  to identify, investigate, and clean up environmental contamination and  other hazards at FUDS. About 38 Percent of the Corps’ Determinations That No DOD Action Is Indicated Are Questionable

Based on our review of NDAI files, we estimate that the Corps does not  have a sound basis for about 38 percent or 1,468, of the estimated  3,840 NDAI determinations in our study population because the property  files did not contain evidence showing that the Corps consistently reviewed  or obtained information that would have allowed it to identify all of the  potential hazards at the properties or that it took sufficient steps to assess  their presence. We also found instances where it appears that  the Corps’ assessment focused on only one of the four potential hazards  included in the Corps’ program—unsafe buildings, structures, or debris;  hazardous, toxic, and radioactive wastes; containerized hazardous wastes;  and ordnance and explosive wastes. DOD also disagreed that the Corps did not take sufficient steps to assess  the presence of potential hazards at FUDS properties. Additional Details on Our Scope and Methodology

The objectives of our review were to determine the extent to which the  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) (1) has a sound basis for  determining that more than 4,000 formerly used defense sites (FUDS) need  no further study or cleanup and for designating those properties as “No  Department of Defense (DOD) Action Indicated, Category I” (NDAI) and  (2) communicated its NDAI determinations to owners and to the regulatory  agencies that may have responsibility and notified the owners that it will  reconsider an NDAI determination if evidence of DOD-caused hazards is  found later.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that cleaning up contamination and hazards at thousands of properties that it formerly owned or controlled will take more than 70 years and cost as much as $20 billion. These formerly used defense sites (FUDS), which can range in size from less than an acre to many thousands of acres, are now used for parks, farms, schools, and homes. Hazards at these properties include unsafe buildings, toxic and radioactive wastes, containerized hazardous wastes, and ordnance and explosive wastes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for identifying, investigating, and cleaning up hazards resulting from military use.

What GAO Found

GAO found that the Corps lacks a sound basis for its conclusion that 38 percent of 3,840 FUDS need no further study or cleanup action. The Corps' determinations are questionable because there is no evidence that it reviewed or obtained information that would allow it to identify all the potential hazards at the properties, or that it took sufficient steps to assess the presence of potential hazards. GAO also found that the Corps often did not notify owners of its determinations that the properties did not need further action, as called for in its guidance, or tell the owners to contact the Corps if evidence of DOD-caused hazards was found later.