Federal Watchdog Finds Gaps in Hazardous Waste Inspections

A new OIG report reveals that over 19% of large-scale hazardous waste generators missed mandatory inspections during a recent five-year period.

• By Jesse Jacobs
• April 29, 2026

A federal evaluation released by the EPA Office of Inspector General found that the agency and several authorized states failed to meet a five-year commitment to inspect all large quantity generators of hazardous waste.

From 2020 through 2024, only 81% of the 6,827 identified large quantity generators, or LQGs, received a compliance evaluation inspection. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the EPA set a standard goal to inspect 100% of these facilities every five years to mitigate risks of environmental contamination.

The evaluation of trends in RCRA state-level enforcement data found that while 94% of hazardous waste was generated by inspected facilities, a significant number of sites remained unvisited. Of the 38 states following a standard inspection plan, 15 met the 100% requirement, while eight states failed to meet even the 85% “minimum expectation” threshold.

The report also highlighted significant disparities in how environmental laws are enforced across state lines. Investigators noted wide variability in the percentage of violations identified during inspections and the severity of the resulting penalties.

For example, when comparing states with the highest number of LQGs—including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York—the OIG found inconsistent rates regarding how many violations resulted in formal enforcement actions and the median dollar amounts of assessments.

While the OIG did not identify the root causes of these discrepancies, the report suggested that quantifying this variability will allow the EPA to better target oversight and technical assistance. The findings are intended to help the agency determine the effectiveness of its enforcement strategies and ensure more consistent monitoring of hazardous waste nationwide.