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The Superfund Program
All the Superfund Sites in the U.S.
The Superfund National Priorities List was created by the federal govenment to record sites that pose the greatest threat to public health and the environment.The greatest threat to human health from hazardous waste sites comes from drinking water laced with contaminants.
Most sites were originally in rural areas on the outskirts of cities but with the growth of those cities, residential developments now surround many of the dumps. One in three Americans live within 5km (3mi) of one or more Superfund sites.
The total cost of cleaning up a site is $20 million.. For this reason, many sites start to be cleaned, but there is not enough money to complete the project. These types of sites, that have had extensive cleanups, remain on the Superfund list because of continued groundwater contamination.
Hazardous waste in corroding drums that have started to leak.
The current landowner, prior landowners, and anyone who has dumped waste or transported waste ot a particular site share cleanup costs. There has much controversy over this by companies, charged with polluting, who are suing each other. Because of these legal battles, it takes many years for a Superfund site to even begin the process of cleaning it.
The Superfund program is the common name for CERCLA (Comprehensive, Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act). It was established by congress in 1980 in response to the Love Canal Disaster where toxic waste was found under a local community.
Seeps at base of Elizabeth Copper Mine Superfund Site Vermont, USA
Cleaning of a Superfund site
