Superfund Site Funding
Nearly half of U.S. residents live within 10 miles of a toxic Superfund Sitesome of the most toxic waste sites in the country. Funding for cleaning up these sites is dwindling while the backlog of superfund sites keeps growing.
There are 1,304 superfund sites in the United States. Many of them are near neighborhoods and schools. The sites pose a threat to the environment and to the health of the people living near them.
During the Bush Administration, clean-up has slowed down and funding for clean-up has fallen. A study by the Center for Public Integrity found that clean-up of superfund sites over the past six years is lagging way behind cleanup accomplished for the previous six years.
Cost recovery from companies responsible for the waste sites also has been declining. The Environmental Protection Agency can require industry responsible for the toxic pollution to pay for cleaning up the site. The problem is that the responsible party can be hard to find. Most of the sites were in use 35 to 40 years ago. To charge a company for clean-up requires reconstructing what took place during that time. If the company has been dissolved for more that three years, they can’t be sued for the clean-up.
Contamination from some of these sites has poisoned children, caused cancer and has been blamed for deaths in communities near the sites. The EPA panel that considers which sites deserve immediate financial attention looks at the risk to the surrounding communities, the environment and public concern. Become informed about hazardous waste sites in your area and let the EPA, and your state and national representatives know you want it cleaned up.