More on Institutional Controls

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

A reply from someone inside the Department of Defense:

Have been reading with interest the flurry of e-mails on institutional
controls. Certainly feel the emotion transmitted. In a perfect world
(with
unlimited money), there would be no need for controls of any type ---
but we
are not there. A cost-benefit analysis is not the perfect approach but
there must be consideration of a number of factors before we opt for
either
unrestrained cleanup or institutional controls. If the land is
government,
then the cost of cleanup is ultimately born by the taxpayer whereas
commercially owned property/facilities will ultimately be cleaned up
using
the consumer price increases not by reducing profit margins.
Current/future
land use, risk (now and in future), cost to cleanup vice cost of land,
etc.
need to enter the equation. Why would you pay $20,000 to clear an acre
of
land worth only $500 if the risk is or can be contained? This is a
great
area for public dialogue.
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org