AFTER LONG HOLDOUT, AIR FORCE AGREES TO SIGN EPA CLEANUP ACCORDS

摘要

The Air Force is reluctantly agreeing to sign enforceable cleanup agreements with EPA at several of its Superfund sites not currently covered by such agreements, following a years-long effort to convince federal regulators to agree to a more-flexible voluntary approach, according to an Oct. 16 Air Force letter obtained by Inside EPA. While officials are signing binding cleanup agreements, known as Federal Facility Agreements (FFAs), for the first time in 14 years, the service is continuing to oppose the agreements and continues to favor its voluntary approach to sign interagency agreements (IAGs). Air Force officials argue that the FFAs are time consuming and process oriented and include measures that are not required by section 120 of the Superfund law, also known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA).