EPA Updates Superfund National Priorities List, Adding Sites in Indiana, Louisiana, and Oklahoma
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is adding three sites and proposing to add four additional sites to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is a list of known sites throughout the United States and its territories where historic releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants pose significant threats to human health and the environment. Thanks to a $3.5 billion investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA is accelerating its work to clean up harmful pollution at NPL sites in communities located across the country.
“Superfund cleanups make a visible and lasting difference in communities, especially communities already overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The historic funding secured through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a critical boost in funding for sites on the National Priorities List, allowing EPA to tackle legacy pollution in underserved communities across the country.”
EPA is adding the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Federated Metals Corp Whiting in Hammond, Indiana.
Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Fansteel Metals/FMRI in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
EPA is proposing to add the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Former Exide Technologies Laureldale in Laureldale, Pennsylvania.
Acme Steel Coke Plant in Chicago, Illinois.
Exide Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE in Des Moines, Iowa.
All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are located in communities that have been historically overburdened by pollution and raise potential environmental justice concerns based on income, demographic, education, linguistic, and life expectancy data from EJSCREEN. By adding sites to the National Priorities List, EPA is delivering protections to communities that need it the most.
Nationally, there are thousands of contaminated sites ranging from landfills and processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, that pose risks to public health and the environment due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up such sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstated the Superfund chemical excise taxes to help clean up such sites, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes to add sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. The National Contingency Plan also allows each State to designate a single site as its top priority to be listed on the National Priorities List, without the need to apply a scientific determination. The State of Oklahoma is designating the Fansteel Metals/FMRI site its top-priority site.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes sites with the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24% within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on commitments to update the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
Learn more about Superfund and the National Priorities List.
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit:
New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.
“Superfund cleanups make a visible and lasting difference in communities, especially communities already overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The historic funding secured through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a critical boost in funding for sites on the National Priorities List, allowing EPA to tackle legacy pollution in underserved communities across the country.”
EPA is adding the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Federated Metals Corp Whiting in Hammond, Indiana.
Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Fansteel Metals/FMRI in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
EPA is proposing to add the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Former Exide Technologies Laureldale in Laureldale, Pennsylvania.
Acme Steel Coke Plant in Chicago, Illinois.
Exide Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE in Des Moines, Iowa.
All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are located in communities that have been historically overburdened by pollution and raise potential environmental justice concerns based on income, demographic, education, linguistic, and life expectancy data from EJSCREEN. By adding sites to the National Priorities List, EPA is delivering protections to communities that need it the most.
Nationally, there are thousands of contaminated sites ranging from landfills and processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, that pose risks to public health and the environment due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up such sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstated the Superfund chemical excise taxes to help clean up such sites, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes to add sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. The National Contingency Plan also allows each State to designate a single site as its top priority to be listed on the National Priorities List, without the need to apply a scientific determination. The State of Oklahoma is designating the Fansteel Metals/FMRI site its top-priority site.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes sites with the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24% within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on commitments to update the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
Learn more about Superfund and the National Priorities List.
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit:
New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.
EPA Reaches Settlement with Suncor Over Clean Air Act Fuels Violations at Commerce City, Colorado Refineries
WASHINGTON - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. (Suncor) resolving alleged violations of the Clean Air Act’s fuels requirements at Suncor’s Commerce City, Colorado refining operations. The noncompliant fuel produced by Suncor resulted in excess amounts of hazardous air pollution, such as carcinogenic benzene and volatile organic compounds released into the air and neighboring communities. Suncor will pay a $160,660 civil penalty and has agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project which requires the company to spend at least $600,000 purchasing or subsidizing the purchase of electric lawn and garden equipment that will be provided to residents, schools, and local governments in the Commerce City/Denver area.
“This settlement demonstrates that EPA will hold refiners accountable when the fuel they produce fails to meet legal requirements,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement and the supplemental environmental project that Suncor agreed to include will provide better air quality for residents affected by Suncor’s misconduct.”
Suncor operates two refineries in Commerce City, Colorado that produce petroleum products, including gasoline. The settlement resolves claims relating to the benzene content and Reid vapor pressure (RVP) of gasoline that Suncor produced. In 2021, Suncor produced over 32 million gallons of gasoline at its Commerce City East Refinery with an average benzene concentration of 1.77 volume percent, which was above the maximum 1.30 volume percent standard. In June 2022, Suncor produced over 1 million gallons of summer gasoline at its Commerce City West Refinery with an RVP of 7.9 pounds per square inch (psi), which was above the 7.8 psi standard. Suncor notified the EPA about both violations.
Suncor has agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project that requires the company to spend at least $600,000 purchasing or subsidizing the purchase of electric lawn and garden equipment, including zero-emission residential and commercial lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, edgers, cutters, and chainsaws, as well as battery-packs, chargers, and accessories that are necessary to support use of the electric equipment. The electric lawn and garden equipment will be distributed to residents that live near Suncor’s Commerce City refineries and local governments and schools located within Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties in Colorado. Suncor will also scrap or destroy the gasoline- or diesel-powered lawn and garden equipment that will be replaced by the electric equipment.
The environmental project will reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gases. VOCs include a variety of chemicals that may produce adverse health effects such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney, and the central nervous system. VOCs also contribute to the formation of ground level ozone. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and anyone with lung diseases such as asthma. Ground level ozone can also have harmful effects on sensitive vegetation and ecosystems.
This supplemental environmental project will reduce these air pollution risks to local communities with environmental justice (EJ) concerns in the Commerce City – North Denver area. The results from EJScreen, EPA’s Environmental Justice screening and mapping tool, suggest a significant potential for EJ concerns in the area due to a combination of high pollution burden and population vulnerability.
This settlement was reviewed and ratified by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. View the 2023 CAA Fuels Administrative Settlements webpage.
This settlement follows another settlement finalized on Aug. 18, 2023, between the EPA and Suncor resolving violations of requirements relating to chemical accident prevention, toxic chemical release reporting, and community right-to-know. Read information on that settlement via the August 18 news release.
“This settlement demonstrates that EPA will hold refiners accountable when the fuel they produce fails to meet legal requirements,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement and the supplemental environmental project that Suncor agreed to include will provide better air quality for residents affected by Suncor’s misconduct.”
Suncor operates two refineries in Commerce City, Colorado that produce petroleum products, including gasoline. The settlement resolves claims relating to the benzene content and Reid vapor pressure (RVP) of gasoline that Suncor produced. In 2021, Suncor produced over 32 million gallons of gasoline at its Commerce City East Refinery with an average benzene concentration of 1.77 volume percent, which was above the maximum 1.30 volume percent standard. In June 2022, Suncor produced over 1 million gallons of summer gasoline at its Commerce City West Refinery with an RVP of 7.9 pounds per square inch (psi), which was above the 7.8 psi standard. Suncor notified the EPA about both violations.
Suncor has agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project that requires the company to spend at least $600,000 purchasing or subsidizing the purchase of electric lawn and garden equipment, including zero-emission residential and commercial lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, edgers, cutters, and chainsaws, as well as battery-packs, chargers, and accessories that are necessary to support use of the electric equipment. The electric lawn and garden equipment will be distributed to residents that live near Suncor’s Commerce City refineries and local governments and schools located within Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties in Colorado. Suncor will also scrap or destroy the gasoline- or diesel-powered lawn and garden equipment that will be replaced by the electric equipment.
The environmental project will reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gases. VOCs include a variety of chemicals that may produce adverse health effects such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney, and the central nervous system. VOCs also contribute to the formation of ground level ozone. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and anyone with lung diseases such as asthma. Ground level ozone can also have harmful effects on sensitive vegetation and ecosystems.
This supplemental environmental project will reduce these air pollution risks to local communities with environmental justice (EJ) concerns in the Commerce City – North Denver area. The results from EJScreen, EPA’s Environmental Justice screening and mapping tool, suggest a significant potential for EJ concerns in the area due to a combination of high pollution burden and population vulnerability.
This settlement was reviewed and ratified by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. View the 2023 CAA Fuels Administrative Settlements webpage.
This settlement follows another settlement finalized on Aug. 18, 2023, between the EPA and Suncor resolving violations of requirements relating to chemical accident prevention, toxic chemical release reporting, and community right-to-know. Read information on that settlement via the August 18 news release.
EPA, MSU Denver partnership strengthens career opportunities for students
DENVER – Leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Metropolitan State University of Denver renewed their commitment to Colorado students during a partnership signing ceremony in Denver today.
The partnership between EPA and MSU Denver, first signed into effect in 2018, promotes education and recruitment of diverse students for environment-related careers in Colorado. Today’s ceremony at the MSU Denver campus celebrated the successes of that collaboration. It also formalized the continued advancement of education and career development for students interested in a wide range of fields such as science, environmental justice and business.
“By signing this updated partnership agreement with MSU Denver today, I’m reaffirming EPA’s commitment to the future of local students,” said KC Becker, EPA Regional Administrator. “These MSU Denver students are talented, diverse and invaluable to advancing Colorado’s prestigious environment-related workforce.”
As part of their initial partnership agreement, EPA and MSU Denver organized student scientist presentations to EPA professionals, coordinated EPA guest lectures and supported MSU Denver's summer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camp. Two MSU Denver students are currently interning at EPA’s Denver office and numerous alumni are part of the EPA workforce.
Plans for the renewed agreement include:
Broadening support for career fields such as business, Native American studies, political science, community engagement and environmental justice;
Federal hiring and resume workshops for students;
Career guidance from EPA professionals;
Presentations by EPA experts at classes and university conferences; and
Exploring opportunities for joint research projects to support student development.
“This enables us to build upon our past work and take our partnership pipeline to the next level,” said Hsiu-Ping Liu, Ph.D., director of the MSU Denver Center for Advanced STEM Education who helped develop the renewed agreement. “We want to support our students both inside and outside of the classroom so that they are well prepared for graduate school and careers in STEM fields. Research and applied-learning internships are the best way for students to learn content, develop critical-thinking skills and collaborate in team environments. Partnerships like this one truly reflect MSU Denver’s mission to provide a well-balanced, holistic and relevant education for our students.”
The partnership between EPA and MSU Denver, first signed into effect in 2018, promotes education and recruitment of diverse students for environment-related careers in Colorado. Today’s ceremony at the MSU Denver campus celebrated the successes of that collaboration. It also formalized the continued advancement of education and career development for students interested in a wide range of fields such as science, environmental justice and business.
“By signing this updated partnership agreement with MSU Denver today, I’m reaffirming EPA’s commitment to the future of local students,” said KC Becker, EPA Regional Administrator. “These MSU Denver students are talented, diverse and invaluable to advancing Colorado’s prestigious environment-related workforce.”
As part of their initial partnership agreement, EPA and MSU Denver organized student scientist presentations to EPA professionals, coordinated EPA guest lectures and supported MSU Denver's summer science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camp. Two MSU Denver students are currently interning at EPA’s Denver office and numerous alumni are part of the EPA workforce.
Plans for the renewed agreement include:
Broadening support for career fields such as business, Native American studies, political science, community engagement and environmental justice;
Federal hiring and resume workshops for students;
Career guidance from EPA professionals;
Presentations by EPA experts at classes and university conferences; and
Exploring opportunities for joint research projects to support student development.
“This enables us to build upon our past work and take our partnership pipeline to the next level,” said Hsiu-Ping Liu, Ph.D., director of the MSU Denver Center for Advanced STEM Education who helped develop the renewed agreement. “We want to support our students both inside and outside of the classroom so that they are well prepared for graduate school and careers in STEM fields. Research and applied-learning internships are the best way for students to learn content, develop critical-thinking skills and collaborate in team environments. Partnerships like this one truly reflect MSU Denver’s mission to provide a well-balanced, holistic and relevant education for our students.”
La EPA llega a un acuerdo con Suncor sobre infracciones de combustibles según la Ley de Aire Limpio en las refinerías de Commerce City, Colorado
6 de septiembre de 2023
Información de contacto:
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON - Hoy, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) anunció un acuerdo con Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. (Suncor) que resuelve presuntas infracciones de los requisitos de combustibles según la Ley de Aire Limpio en las operaciones de refinación de Suncor en Commerce City, Colorado. El combustible no conforme producido por Suncor generó en cantidades excesivas de contaminación peligrosa del aire, como benceno cancerígeno y compuestos orgánicos volátiles liberados al aire y a las comunidades vecinas. Suncor pagará una multa civil de $160,660 y acordó implementar un proyecto ambiental suplementario que exige que la compañía gaste al menos $600,000 en comprar o subvencionar la compra de equipos eléctricos para césped y jardín que se entregarán a los residentes, escuelas y gobiernos locales en el área de Commerce City/Denver.
“Este acuerdo demuestra que la EPA responsabilizará a las refinerías cuando el combustible que producen no cumpla con los requisitos legales”, explicó el administrador asistente David M. Uhlmann de la Oficina de Acatamiento y Garantía de Cumplimiento de la EPA. “Este acuerdo y el proyecto ambiental suplementario que Suncor acordó incluir proporcionarán una mejor calidad del aire para los residentes afectados por la mala conducta de Suncor”.
Suncor opera dos refinerías en Commerce City, Colorado, que elaboran productos derivados del petróleo, incluida la gasolina. El acuerdo resuelve los reclamos relacionados con el contenido de benceno y la presión de vapor Reid (RVP) de la gasolina que Suncor produjo. En 2021, Suncor produjo más de 32 millones de galones de gasolina en su refinería Commerce City East con una concentración promedio de benceno de 1.77 por ciento en volumen, que estaba por encima del máximo de 1.30 por ciento de volumen permitido por la norma. En junio de 2022, Suncor produjo más de 1 millón de galones de gasolina de verano en su refinería Commerce City West con un RVP de 7.9 libras por pulgada cuadrada (psi), que estaba por encima de la norma de 7.8 psi. Suncor notificó a la EPA sobre ambas infracciones.
Suncor ha acordado implementar un proyecto ambiental suplementario que exige que la compañía gaste al menos $600,000 en comprar o subvencionar la compra de equipos eléctricos para césped y jardín, incluidas cortadoras de césped residenciales y comerciales de cero emisiones, sopladores de hojas, recortadoras, bordeadoras, cortadoras y motosierras, así como paquetes de baterías, cargadores y accesorios que son necesarios para respaldar el uso del equipo eléctrico. Los equipos eléctricos para césped y jardín se distribuirán a los residentes que viven cerca de las refinerías de Commerce City de Suncor y los gobiernos locales y las escuelas ubicadas en los condados de Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer y Weld en Colorado. Suncor también desechará o destruirá el equipo de césped y jardín a gasolina o diésel que será reemplazado por el equipo eléctrico.
El proyecto ambiental reducirá las emisiones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV), incluido el benceno, así como óxidos de nitrógeno, monóxido de carbono y gases de efecto invernadero. Los COV incluyen una variedad de sustancias químicas que pueden producir efectos adversos para la salud, como irritación de ojos, nariz y garganta, dolores de cabeza, náuseas y daño al hígado, los riñones y el sistema nervioso central. Los COV también contribuyen a la formación de ozono troposférico. Respirar ozono puede desencadenar una variedad de problemas de salud, particularmente en los niños, ancianos y cualquier persona con enfermedades pulmonares como el asma. El ozono troposférico también puede tener efectos nocivos en la vegetación y los ecosistemas sensibles.
Este proyecto ambiental suplementario reducirá estos riesgos de contaminación del aire para las comunidades locales con preocupaciones de justicia ambiental (EJ) en el área de Commerce City – Norte de Denver. Los resultados de EJScreen, la herramienta de evaluación y mapeo de Justicia Ambiental de la EPA, sugieren un potencial significativo para las preocupaciones de EJ en el área debido a una combinación de alta carga de contaminación y vulnerabilidad de la población.
Este acuerdo fue revisado y ratificado por la Junta de Apelaciones Ambientales de la EPA y está disponible aquí.
Este acuerdo es posterior a otro acuerdo finalizado el 18 de agosto de 2023, entre la EPA y Suncor que resuelve las infracciones de los requisitos relacionados con la prevención de accidentes químicos, los informes de emisiones de sustancias químicas tóxicas y el derecho a saber que tiene la comunidad. La información sobre ese acuerdo está disponible aquí.
Información de contacto:
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON - Hoy, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) anunció un acuerdo con Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. (Suncor) que resuelve presuntas infracciones de los requisitos de combustibles según la Ley de Aire Limpio en las operaciones de refinación de Suncor en Commerce City, Colorado. El combustible no conforme producido por Suncor generó en cantidades excesivas de contaminación peligrosa del aire, como benceno cancerígeno y compuestos orgánicos volátiles liberados al aire y a las comunidades vecinas. Suncor pagará una multa civil de $160,660 y acordó implementar un proyecto ambiental suplementario que exige que la compañía gaste al menos $600,000 en comprar o subvencionar la compra de equipos eléctricos para césped y jardín que se entregarán a los residentes, escuelas y gobiernos locales en el área de Commerce City/Denver.
“Este acuerdo demuestra que la EPA responsabilizará a las refinerías cuando el combustible que producen no cumpla con los requisitos legales”, explicó el administrador asistente David M. Uhlmann de la Oficina de Acatamiento y Garantía de Cumplimiento de la EPA. “Este acuerdo y el proyecto ambiental suplementario que Suncor acordó incluir proporcionarán una mejor calidad del aire para los residentes afectados por la mala conducta de Suncor”.
Suncor opera dos refinerías en Commerce City, Colorado, que elaboran productos derivados del petróleo, incluida la gasolina. El acuerdo resuelve los reclamos relacionados con el contenido de benceno y la presión de vapor Reid (RVP) de la gasolina que Suncor produjo. En 2021, Suncor produjo más de 32 millones de galones de gasolina en su refinería Commerce City East con una concentración promedio de benceno de 1.77 por ciento en volumen, que estaba por encima del máximo de 1.30 por ciento de volumen permitido por la norma. En junio de 2022, Suncor produjo más de 1 millón de galones de gasolina de verano en su refinería Commerce City West con un RVP de 7.9 libras por pulgada cuadrada (psi), que estaba por encima de la norma de 7.8 psi. Suncor notificó a la EPA sobre ambas infracciones.
Suncor ha acordado implementar un proyecto ambiental suplementario que exige que la compañía gaste al menos $600,000 en comprar o subvencionar la compra de equipos eléctricos para césped y jardín, incluidas cortadoras de césped residenciales y comerciales de cero emisiones, sopladores de hojas, recortadoras, bordeadoras, cortadoras y motosierras, así como paquetes de baterías, cargadores y accesorios que son necesarios para respaldar el uso del equipo eléctrico. Los equipos eléctricos para césped y jardín se distribuirán a los residentes que viven cerca de las refinerías de Commerce City de Suncor y los gobiernos locales y las escuelas ubicadas en los condados de Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer y Weld en Colorado. Suncor también desechará o destruirá el equipo de césped y jardín a gasolina o diésel que será reemplazado por el equipo eléctrico.
El proyecto ambiental reducirá las emisiones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV), incluido el benceno, así como óxidos de nitrógeno, monóxido de carbono y gases de efecto invernadero. Los COV incluyen una variedad de sustancias químicas que pueden producir efectos adversos para la salud, como irritación de ojos, nariz y garganta, dolores de cabeza, náuseas y daño al hígado, los riñones y el sistema nervioso central. Los COV también contribuyen a la formación de ozono troposférico. Respirar ozono puede desencadenar una variedad de problemas de salud, particularmente en los niños, ancianos y cualquier persona con enfermedades pulmonares como el asma. El ozono troposférico también puede tener efectos nocivos en la vegetación y los ecosistemas sensibles.
Este proyecto ambiental suplementario reducirá estos riesgos de contaminación del aire para las comunidades locales con preocupaciones de justicia ambiental (EJ) en el área de Commerce City – Norte de Denver. Los resultados de EJScreen, la herramienta de evaluación y mapeo de Justicia Ambiental de la EPA, sugieren un potencial significativo para las preocupaciones de EJ en el área debido a una combinación de alta carga de contaminación y vulnerabilidad de la población.
Este acuerdo fue revisado y ratificado por la Junta de Apelaciones Ambientales de la EPA y está disponible aquí.
Este acuerdo es posterior a otro acuerdo finalizado el 18 de agosto de 2023, entre la EPA y Suncor que resuelve las infracciones de los requisitos relacionados con la prevención de accidentes químicos, los informes de emisiones de sustancias químicas tóxicas y el derecho a saber que tiene la comunidad. La información sobre ese acuerdo está disponible aquí.
EPA to conduct Climate Vulnerability Assessment at Smurfit-Stone Mill site in Frenchtown, Montana
Frenchtown, Mont. — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the approval of a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) project for the Smurfit-Stone Mill site in Frenchtown, Montana. CVAs help EPA project managers design Superfund remedies that are resilient in the face of a changing climate, taking drought, severe weather, temperature, wildfire and other factors into account.
“This forward-looking assessment demonstrates EPA’s commitment to a full understanding of potential risks, both now and in the future, at the Smurfit-Stone Mill site,” said EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker. “The effects of climate change are already apparent in Montana. Ensuring that cleanup remedies are designed with these effects in mind will strengthen their long-term effectiveness and protect human health and the environment.”
The CVA will begin in late September and will run alongside current Superfund remedial investigation and risk assessment work. EPA and partners will use the results to evaluate how climate change is likely to affect the protectiveness of site-specific cleanup actions, remedies and infrastructure over time and identify needs and adaptive measures to improve remedy resilience under future climate conditions. This information will ensure that future decisions about final cleanup actions and remedies will protect human health and environmental resources, including surface waters, fish and aquatic life, from exposure to harmful levels of site contaminants.
CVAs are typically conducted later in the Superfund process, once remedial investigations are complete. By initiating the project now, remedial project managers at the Smurfit-Stone Mill site will gain a greater understanding of potential risks while the site investigation is still underway, helping to develop the most forward-looking, adaptive and resilient site plan possible. EPA expects the CVA to be completed in 2024.
“The Frenchtown Smurfit-Stone Mill Community Advisory Group (CAG) strongly supports the efforts of the EPA to secure a Climate Vulnerability Assessment,” said CAG Administrative Team members Bruce Sims, Jeri Delys and Jennifer Harrington. “The assessment will significantly benefit our efforts to ensure a protective, climate-resilient cleanup for the community we are fortunate to call home.”
The site, a former paper and pulp mill located three miles south of Frenchtown, Montana, covers 3,200 acres and is divided into three operable units spanning agricultural lands, the former mill site and parts of the Clark Fork River floodplain. Efforts are currently underway to characterize and understand risks related to prior site activities and waste disposal practices.
Information about the site, including timelines, operable units and current characterization efforts, is available on the EPA Superfund page.
Comprehensive information on EPA’s current and forthcoming efforts related to climate change is available on EPA’s Climate Change page.
“This forward-looking assessment demonstrates EPA’s commitment to a full understanding of potential risks, both now and in the future, at the Smurfit-Stone Mill site,” said EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker. “The effects of climate change are already apparent in Montana. Ensuring that cleanup remedies are designed with these effects in mind will strengthen their long-term effectiveness and protect human health and the environment.”
The CVA will begin in late September and will run alongside current Superfund remedial investigation and risk assessment work. EPA and partners will use the results to evaluate how climate change is likely to affect the protectiveness of site-specific cleanup actions, remedies and infrastructure over time and identify needs and adaptive measures to improve remedy resilience under future climate conditions. This information will ensure that future decisions about final cleanup actions and remedies will protect human health and environmental resources, including surface waters, fish and aquatic life, from exposure to harmful levels of site contaminants.
CVAs are typically conducted later in the Superfund process, once remedial investigations are complete. By initiating the project now, remedial project managers at the Smurfit-Stone Mill site will gain a greater understanding of potential risks while the site investigation is still underway, helping to develop the most forward-looking, adaptive and resilient site plan possible. EPA expects the CVA to be completed in 2024.
“The Frenchtown Smurfit-Stone Mill Community Advisory Group (CAG) strongly supports the efforts of the EPA to secure a Climate Vulnerability Assessment,” said CAG Administrative Team members Bruce Sims, Jeri Delys and Jennifer Harrington. “The assessment will significantly benefit our efforts to ensure a protective, climate-resilient cleanup for the community we are fortunate to call home.”
The site, a former paper and pulp mill located three miles south of Frenchtown, Montana, covers 3,200 acres and is divided into three operable units spanning agricultural lands, the former mill site and parts of the Clark Fork River floodplain. Efforts are currently underway to characterize and understand risks related to prior site activities and waste disposal practices.
Information about the site, including timelines, operable units and current characterization efforts, is available on the EPA Superfund page.
Comprehensive information on EPA’s current and forthcoming efforts related to climate change is available on EPA’s Climate Change page.
EPA reaches settlement with Suncor over Clean Air Act fuels violations at Commerce City, Colorado, refineries
WASHINGTON - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. (Suncor) resolving alleged violations of the Clean Air Act’s fuels requirements at Suncor’s Commerce City, Colorado, refining operations. The noncompliant fuel produced by Suncor resulted in excess amounts of hazardous air pollution, such as carcinogenic benzene and volatile organic compounds released into the air and neighboring communities. Suncor will pay a $160,660 civil penalty and has agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project which requires the company to spend at least $600,000 purchasing or subsidizing the purchase of electric lawn and garden equipment that will be provided to residents, schools and local governments in the Commerce City/Denver area.
“This settlement demonstrates that EPA will hold refineries accountable when the fuel they produce fails to meet legal requirements,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement and the supplemental environmental project that Suncor agreed to include will provide better air quality for residents affected by Suncor’s misconduct.”
Suncor operates two refineries in Commerce City, Colorado, that produce petroleum products, including gasoline. The settlement resolves claims relating to the benzene content and Reid vapor pressure (RVP) of gasoline that Suncor produced. In 2021, Suncor produced over 32 million gallons of gasoline at its Commerce City East Refinery with an average benzene concentration of 1.77 volume percent, which was above the maximum 1.30 volume percent standard. In June 2022, Suncor produced over 1 million gallons of summer gasoline at its Commerce City West Refinery with an RVP of 7.9 pounds per square inch (psi), which was above the 7.8 psi standard. Suncor notified the EPA about both violations.
Suncor has agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project that requires the company to spend at least $600,000 purchasing or subsidizing the purchase of electric lawn and garden equipment, including zero-emission residential and commercial lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, edgers, cutters and chainsaws, as well as battery packs, chargers and accessories that are necessary to support use of the electric equipment. The electric lawn and garden equipment will be distributed to residents that live near Suncor’s Commerce City refineries and local governments and schools located within Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld Counties in Colorado. Suncor will also scrap or destroy the gasoline- or diesel-powered lawn and garden equipment that will be replaced by the electric equipment.
The environmental project will reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases. VOCs include a variety of chemicals that may produce adverse health effects such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney and the central nervous system. VOCs also contribute to the formation of ground level ozone. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly and anyone with lung diseases such as asthma. Ground level ozone can also have harmful effects on sensitive vegetation and ecosystems.
This supplemental environmental project will reduce these air pollution risks to local communities with environmental justice (EJ) concerns in the Commerce City – North Denver area. The results from EJScreen, EPA’s Environmental Justice screening and mapping tool, suggest a significant potential for EJ concerns in the area due to a combination of high pollution burden and population vulnerability.
This settlement was reviewed and ratified by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board and is available here.
This settlement follows another settlement finalized on August 18, 2023, between the EPA and Suncor resolving violations of requirements relating to chemical accident prevention, toxic chemical release reporting and community right-to-know. Information on that settlement is available here.
“This settlement demonstrates that EPA will hold refineries accountable when the fuel they produce fails to meet legal requirements,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement and the supplemental environmental project that Suncor agreed to include will provide better air quality for residents affected by Suncor’s misconduct.”
Suncor operates two refineries in Commerce City, Colorado, that produce petroleum products, including gasoline. The settlement resolves claims relating to the benzene content and Reid vapor pressure (RVP) of gasoline that Suncor produced. In 2021, Suncor produced over 32 million gallons of gasoline at its Commerce City East Refinery with an average benzene concentration of 1.77 volume percent, which was above the maximum 1.30 volume percent standard. In June 2022, Suncor produced over 1 million gallons of summer gasoline at its Commerce City West Refinery with an RVP of 7.9 pounds per square inch (psi), which was above the 7.8 psi standard. Suncor notified the EPA about both violations.
Suncor has agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project that requires the company to spend at least $600,000 purchasing or subsidizing the purchase of electric lawn and garden equipment, including zero-emission residential and commercial lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, edgers, cutters and chainsaws, as well as battery packs, chargers and accessories that are necessary to support use of the electric equipment. The electric lawn and garden equipment will be distributed to residents that live near Suncor’s Commerce City refineries and local governments and schools located within Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld Counties in Colorado. Suncor will also scrap or destroy the gasoline- or diesel-powered lawn and garden equipment that will be replaced by the electric equipment.
The environmental project will reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases. VOCs include a variety of chemicals that may produce adverse health effects such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney and the central nervous system. VOCs also contribute to the formation of ground level ozone. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly and anyone with lung diseases such as asthma. Ground level ozone can also have harmful effects on sensitive vegetation and ecosystems.
This supplemental environmental project will reduce these air pollution risks to local communities with environmental justice (EJ) concerns in the Commerce City – North Denver area. The results from EJScreen, EPA’s Environmental Justice screening and mapping tool, suggest a significant potential for EJ concerns in the area due to a combination of high pollution burden and population vulnerability.
This settlement was reviewed and ratified by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board and is available here.
This settlement follows another settlement finalized on August 18, 2023, between the EPA and Suncor resolving violations of requirements relating to chemical accident prevention, toxic chemical release reporting and community right-to-know. Information on that settlement is available here.
EPA Proposes Adding Acme Steel Coke Plant in Chicago to Superfund National Priorities List
CHICAGO (September 6, 2023) -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed adding Acme Steel Coke Plant in Chicago, Illinois to the Superfund National Priorities List, a list of sites in the United States where releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants pose significant threats to human health and the environment. The 60-day public comment period begins September 7.
“Superfund cleanups make a visible and lasting difference in communities, especially communities already overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The historic funding secured through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a critical boost in funding for sites on the National Priorities List, allowing EPA to tackle legacy pollution in underserved communities across the country.”
“Adding the Acme Coke site to the NPL gives Chicagoans a chance to cleanup a site with contamination nearly 100-years in the making,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “This area of Chicago is already overburdened with legacy contamination. Cleaning up this site will be a huge environmental boon to the community.”
The former Acme Steel Coke Plant site, located approximately 14 miles south of downtown Chicago, was the location of coke production for nearly 100 years. Coke was produced through destructive distillation (coking) of coal in large airtight ovens, creating a product then used in iron and steel production. Environmental assessments found that exposed waste was present on-site. Samples of the waste detected the presence of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), cyanide, and mercury. The site threatens nearby surface water bodies, which include wetlands and areas sometimes used for fishing. EPA worked with Illinois EPA to assess the site and both agencies supported listing the site on the NPL.
Superfund sites disproportionately affect overburdened and underserved communities. The Acme Steel site is in a community with potential environmental justice concerns based on data from EPA’s EJSCREEN tool.
Nationally there are thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA adds the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on updating the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit EPA’s website.
For more information about the Acme Steel site, please click here.
To provide public comments, please go to the Federal Register notice and follow the instructions for public comment.
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.
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“Superfund cleanups make a visible and lasting difference in communities, especially communities already overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The historic funding secured through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a critical boost in funding for sites on the National Priorities List, allowing EPA to tackle legacy pollution in underserved communities across the country.”
“Adding the Acme Coke site to the NPL gives Chicagoans a chance to cleanup a site with contamination nearly 100-years in the making,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “This area of Chicago is already overburdened with legacy contamination. Cleaning up this site will be a huge environmental boon to the community.”
The former Acme Steel Coke Plant site, located approximately 14 miles south of downtown Chicago, was the location of coke production for nearly 100 years. Coke was produced through destructive distillation (coking) of coal in large airtight ovens, creating a product then used in iron and steel production. Environmental assessments found that exposed waste was present on-site. Samples of the waste detected the presence of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), cyanide, and mercury. The site threatens nearby surface water bodies, which include wetlands and areas sometimes used for fishing. EPA worked with Illinois EPA to assess the site and both agencies supported listing the site on the NPL.
Superfund sites disproportionately affect overburdened and underserved communities. The Acme Steel site is in a community with potential environmental justice concerns based on data from EPA’s EJSCREEN tool.
Nationally there are thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA adds the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on updating the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit EPA’s website.
For more information about the Acme Steel site, please click here.
To provide public comments, please go to the Federal Register notice and follow the instructions for public comment.
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.
###
EPA Adds Federated Metals Corp Whiting Site in Hammond, Indiana to Superfund National Priorities List
CHICAGO (September 6, 2023) -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is adding Federated Metals Corp Whiting site in Hammond, Indiana to the Superfund National Priorities List, a list of sites in the United States where releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants pose significant threats to human health and the environment.
“Superfund cleanups make a visible and lasting difference in communities, especially communities already overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The historic funding secured through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a critical boost in funding for sites on the National Priorities List, allowing EPA to tackle legacy pollution in underserved communities across the country.”
“The families of Hammond and Whiting deserve to live in a healthy environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “Adding the Federated Metals site to the National Priorities List showcases EPA’s commitment to protecting human health. By cleaning up this site, EPA can support residents to help create healthy, thriving communities.”
The Federated Metals site is a former metal smelting, refining, recovery, and recycling facility that operated for nearly 50 years along the shore of Lake George. Federated Metals closed operations in 1983 but various smelting facilities subsequently operated on the property. The property was regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act until 2016 when the site was referred to EPA’s Superfund removal program to investigate potential contamination in the surrounding neighborhood.
Lead and arsenic were found at elevated concentrations in residential yards near the facility. From 2018 to 2019 EPA performed a short-term cleanup, or removal action, excavating lead-contaminated soils at 33 priority residential properties in Whiting and Hammond. These priority properties were properties where surface lead levels were equal to or exceeded 1,200 parts lead per million parts soil, and where sensitive populations lived. During EPA’s site investigation and evaluation of the site for the NPL, Lake George sediments were found to have elevated lead concentrations which may impact wildlife. EPA has confirmed that approximately 130 residential properties have lead-contaminated soil and an estimated 700 residential properties still need to be sampled.
Superfund sites disproportionately affect overburdened and underserved communities. All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on from EPA’s EJSCREEN tool. By adding sites to the National Priorities List, EPA is delivering protections to communities that need it the most.
Nationally there are thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, where hazardous waste was dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on an evaluation of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA’s public comment period opened on March 29, 2023. The Agency’s responses to public comments can be found at on the website.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on updating the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit EPA’s website.
For more information about the site, click here.
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.
“Superfund cleanups make a visible and lasting difference in communities, especially communities already overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The historic funding secured through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides a critical boost in funding for sites on the National Priorities List, allowing EPA to tackle legacy pollution in underserved communities across the country.”
“The families of Hammond and Whiting deserve to live in a healthy environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “Adding the Federated Metals site to the National Priorities List showcases EPA’s commitment to protecting human health. By cleaning up this site, EPA can support residents to help create healthy, thriving communities.”
The Federated Metals site is a former metal smelting, refining, recovery, and recycling facility that operated for nearly 50 years along the shore of Lake George. Federated Metals closed operations in 1983 but various smelting facilities subsequently operated on the property. The property was regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act until 2016 when the site was referred to EPA’s Superfund removal program to investigate potential contamination in the surrounding neighborhood.
Lead and arsenic were found at elevated concentrations in residential yards near the facility. From 2018 to 2019 EPA performed a short-term cleanup, or removal action, excavating lead-contaminated soils at 33 priority residential properties in Whiting and Hammond. These priority properties were properties where surface lead levels were equal to or exceeded 1,200 parts lead per million parts soil, and where sensitive populations lived. During EPA’s site investigation and evaluation of the site for the NPL, Lake George sediments were found to have elevated lead concentrations which may impact wildlife. EPA has confirmed that approximately 130 residential properties have lead-contaminated soil and an estimated 700 residential properties still need to be sampled.
Superfund sites disproportionately affect overburdened and underserved communities. All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on from EPA’s EJSCREEN tool. By adding sites to the National Priorities List, EPA is delivering protections to communities that need it the most.
Nationally there are thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, where hazardous waste was dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on an evaluation of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA’s public comment period opened on March 29, 2023. The Agency’s responses to public comments can be found at on the website.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on updating the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit EPA’s website.
For more information about the site, click here.
For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.