EPA Adds Five Hazardous Waste Sites to Superfund’s National Priorities List and Proposes an Additional Seven

"Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding five hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the environment to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). A separate action includes a proposal to add seven sites to the list.

“Since the creation of the Superfund program 35 years ago, EPA has been addressing the risk to human health and the environment as well as blight to the economy due to contamination left behind by owners and operators,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “Superfund cleanups protect communities’ health, their environments and their economic wellbeing, including some of the country’s most vulnerable populations.”...
The following seven sites have been proposed for addition to the NPL:
• Iowa - PCE Former Dry Cleaner (dry cleaner) in Atlantic, Iowa;
• Illinois - Old American Zinc Plant (zinc smelter) in Fairmont City, Ill.;
• Indiana - West Vermont Drinking Water Contamination (ground water plume) in Indianapolis, Ind.;
• Louisiana - SBA Shipyard (barge construction and maintenance) in Jennings, La.; 
• Nebraska - Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Co. (former manufactured gas plant) in Norfolk, Neb.; 
• New Jersey - Former Kil-Tone Company (pesticide manufacturer) in Vineland, N.J.; and
• New Mexico - Lea and West Second Street (ground water plume) in Roswell, N.M..." 
Superfund sites

EPA Adds 12 Hazardous Waste Sites to Superfund’s National Priorities List

"The following 12 sites have been added to the National Priorities List: 

• Alabama Plating Company, Inc. (former electroplater) in Vincent, Ala.
• Cedar Chemical Corporation (former chemical manufacturer) in West Helena, Ark.
• Fairfax St. Wood Treaters (former wood treating operation) in Jacksonville, Fla.
• Bautsch-Gray Mine (former lead and zinc mine) in Galena, Ill.
• EVR-Wood Treating/Evangeline Refining Company (former wood treating operation) in Jennings, La.
• Leeds Metal (abandoned scrap metal facility) in Leeds, Maine
• Holcomb Creosote Co (former wood treating operation) in Yadkinville, N.C.
• Orange Valley Regional Ground Water Contamination (contaminated ground water plume) in Orange/West Orange, N.J.
• Peters Cartridge Factory (former ammunition manufacturer) in Kings Mills, Ohio
• West Troy Contaminated Aquifer (contaminated ground water plume) in Troy, Ohio
• Circle Court Ground Water Plume (contaminated ground water plume) in Willow Park, Texas
• U.S. Oil Recovery (former used oil recovery operation) in Pasadena, Texas.."

EPA Announces Superfund Cleanup Progress for FY 2009
"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today the annual summary of the Superfund program’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 progress. The report shows that the program continues to make significant progress in achieving its mission of cleaning up the country’s most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites and protecting the health of nearby communities and ecosystems from harmful contaminants.

In FY 2009, which ended on Sept. 30, EPA completed all of its construction projects at 20 sites, for a cumulative total of 1,080 sites with construction completed – 67 percent of the top priority sites ranked on the National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund has continued to protect communities and the environment by listing 20 new sites and proposing that 23 sites be added to the NPL in FY 2009.."

Annual Superfund Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2008
"As the amount of funds available for Superfund work continues to diminish, it becomes increasingly imperative for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to spend its Superfund dollars as prudently as possible to achieve maximum benefits from dollars available. This report covers the Fiscal Year 2008 Superfund activity of the EPA Office of Inspector General. The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 requires the Office of Inspector General to annually audit the Superfund program and report the results to Congress.

Although EPA regions have recovered 56 percent of the total Superfund costs from sites reviewed during an evaluation, they could recover more. EPA had not collected as much as $129 million (44 percent), and determined it will not attempt to recover between $30 million and $90 million of that amount. This indicates a potentially significant breakdown in controls over Superfund cost recovery."

Superfund National Accomplishments Summary Fiscal Year 2008
"Protecting human health and the environment remains Superfund’s top priority

* Controlled all identified unacceptable human exposures at a net total of 24 sites, exceeding the annual target of 10 and bringing the program’s cumulative total to 1,306 sites under control.
* Controlled the migration of contaminated ground water through engineered remedies or natural processes at a net total of 20 sites, exceeding the target of 15 for the year and bringing the program’s cumulative total to 997 sites under control.

Superfund prepares land for return to productive use

* EPA ensured 85 sites have all long-term protections in place necessary for anticipated reuse, bringing the cumulative total of sites ready for anticipated reuse to 343.

EPA’s Superfund Program obligated nearly $599 million to perform construction and post-construction activities and to conduct and oversee emergency response actions

* Obligated nearly $462 million in appropriated funds, state cost-share contributions, and potentially responsible party settlement resources for construction and post-construction projects.
* Obligated nearly $137 million to conduct more than 372 emergency response and removal actions to address immediate and substantial threats to communities.

EPA funded new construction

* Obligated more than $55 million in appropriated funds, state cost-share contributions, and potentially responsible party settlement resources for 16 new construction projects ranked by the National Risk-Based Priority Panel at 15 National Priorities List (NPL) sites.."