The premier US agency charged with investigating government procedures, mistakes and general policy implications has agreed to Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-Hamilton) request for a comprehensive examination of the actions taken by the Environmental Protection Agency in response to the discovery of asbestos at the site of the former W.R. Grace/Zonolite plant in Hamilton, New Jersey.

    “As the investigative arm of the US Congress, the GAO has a record of success in identifying government problems, fostering corrective action and holding responsible parties accountable to the taxpayer,” said Smith who has pushed for greater responsiveness and transparency from federal and state officials overseeing the testing and cleanup of the site.

    “The GAO’s decision to focus resources and deploy a team of experts to evaluate the procedures used to address the health and safety of former workers and local residents possibly exposed to asbestos will help ensure that the best methods are used in the future and that our community receives the highest level of performance and care from the federal agencies charged with environmental health and safety,” said Smith. 

    According to Smith’s office, the GAO will meet with the Congressman, and Rep. Tom Davis, chairman of the Government Reform Committee, to outline the scope, methodology and approximate timeline for the GAO probe. The GAO is expected to inspect EPA documents, interview key personnel, and compare actions at sites across the country.

    Last year, the EPA removed 9,000 tons of asbestos contaminated soil from the Hamilton W.R. Grace/Zonolite plant site and plans to remove 6,000 tons more this summer. The Zonolite site building, most recently occupied by a document shredding company, was burnt to the ground in a five alarm blaze. 

    “With their decision today, the GAO has recognized how important this request is for both the residents of Hamilton and residents in close proximity to other contaminated sites around the nation. Through an aggressive, sweeping and informative probe, the GAO can produce key findings and recommendations that will ultimately enhance the health and safety of those associated in any way with this asbestos contaminated site,” Smith said.