What is a Superfund Site?
What are Superfund sites? Understanding what superfund sites are is very important to consumers across the United States although most people have little idea what they are. Most people hear the term on TV or in a municipality newsletter and dismiss it. However, understanding the Superfund federal program has effects in areas as broad as real estate to environmental policy to where your used batteries are disposed of.
Q. What is a Superfund?
A. 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.
Q. What is the purpose of CERCLA?
A. CERCLA exists to protect the American people from toxic wastes deposited across the country. It allows the EPA to maintain a list of sites, and to seek to attenuate the harmful effects of the contaminants.
Q. How many Superfund sites are there?
A. There are currently 1240 sites.
Q. How does the EPA seek to solve these local problems?
A. CERCLA establishes the liable persons and agencies to pay for the cleanup. There is also a trust fund set up by the government to pay for remediation when the responsible party is ambiguous. There are two main types of actions the EPA may take: 1. Removal of contaminants, and 2. Remediation of contaminants.
Q. What type of remediation techniques are used?
A. This is a very big question. Environmental Remediation as a science is still in its infancy (Yes, this is what I am studying for those who know me). Geochemists and engineers of all types seek to study various contaminants in all kinds of environments to develop methods that are the best fit for each situation.
Q. How can I find out if there is a Superfund site near me?
A. You may go to the EPA’s website http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm
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Hello,
My name is Alyssa and I am collecting archival material for a documentary film project and I was wondering where you found this photo of the rusted barrels. Is there any photo credits you can give me? Did you take the photo? Thanks for the information and keep up the great blogging.
-Alyssa