EPA New England Press Releases

Superfund: Setting the Record Straight

Contact: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Involvement Office, 617-918-1064

For Immediate Release: October 1, 2003; Release # 03-10-05

Myth: Superfund is running out of money.

FACT: Funding for Superfund, the nation's primary program to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous wastes, is actually increasing.

• Annual appropriations by Congress for Superfund have remained relatively steady at approximately $1.3 billion during both the Clinton and Bush Administrations.

• The Bush Administration requested an additional $150 million–above and beyond existing funding levels– for Superfund in the FY2004 budget.

• While the FY2004 Budget is not yet finalized, the House version calls for a $39 million increase in Superfund dollars while the Senate version calls for a $28 million increase. It is hoped that the House and Senate will agree to increase the Superfund appropriation to a level closer to the President's request.

Myth: Because the Superfund tax has not been renewed by Congress since 1995, continuation of the program is in jeopardy.

FACT: Existence of the Superfund tax has not affected funding levels for the Superfund program.

• Congress has continued to allocate funding to Superfund since the tax expired. EPA continues to identify sites for cleanup and to do the work to clean contaminated sites.

• Congressional appropriations for Superfund historically included funding both from General Revenues and from Trust Fund revenues. The source of congressional appropriations has not affected the appropriation for Superfund cleanups - about $1.3 billion per year.

• EPA is confident that Congress will continue to provide funding for the Superfund program, and it is likely that the Superfund appropriation will increase in FY ‘04.

Myth: Because the Superfund Tax was not renewed by Congress, that means that U.S. taxpayers are now paying for all Superfund clean up activities.

FACT: The majority of Superfund cleanups are paid for by the person or group who bears responsibility for the cleanup. EPA remains committed to the "polluter pays"principle.

• Approximately 70 percent of Superfund cleanup activities historically have been paid for by parties responsible (PRPs) for the cleanup of contamination. EPA continues to pursue PRP's and PRP resources.

• The only time cleanup costs are not borne by the PRP is when the PRP can not be found or is unable to pay for the cleanup.

• Since 1980, EPA has secured $20.6 billion in cleanup commitments from PRPs.

• In FY2002 alone, EPA's enforcement efforts secured approximately $627 million from PRPs, and responsible parties paid for 48 new Superfund construction projects.

Myth: The expiration of the Superfund Tax in 1995 means that new sites do not get added to EPA's list for cleanup.

FACT: Sites continue to be added to the National Priority List for Superfund cleanup.

• EPA is working to address a current backlog of cleanup construction projects which await funding.

• Currently, eight large and very complicated clean up sites account for 40 percent of the yearly cleanup construction budget. While these cleanups are critical, they do have a "ripple effect" on other, less contaminated or otherwise less risky sites that await cleanup activity.

• EPA is trying to identify ways to redirect funding from other portions of the Superfund appropriation towards cleanup construction.

• Recognizing that the eight "mega-sites" are consuming 40 percent of the Superfund dollars, EPA and the Administration have proposed a $150 million increase in the Superfund appropriate so that many smaller, less expensive cleanups can move forward.

What Can People Expect During the Next Year?

• The Bush Administration requested an additional $150 million for Superfund in the FY2004 budget to help address the backlog of unfunded Superfund cleanups.

• The Senate Appropriations Committee, in their September markup of the FY2004 budget, approved only approximately $28 million in additional funding for Superfund cleanups. The House version includes approximately $39 million of the President's requested $150 million.

• The additional money approved by the Senate and the House will likely fund a few new cleanups nationally. Fully funding the President's $150 million request could fund 10 to 15 new cleanups.

METADATA

1. TITLE: Superfund: Setting the Record Straight

2. ABSTRACT: Myth: Superfund is running out of money.
   FACT: Funding for Superfund, the nation's primary program to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous wastes, is actually increasing.

3. PURPOSE: Public Information

4. ORIGINATOR: Regional Administrator's Office

5. PUBLICATION DATE: 10/01/03

6. ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: N/A

7. AVAILABILITY: N/A
   a. Distributor:
   b. Order Process:
   c. Technical Prerequisites:
   d. Automated Linkage:
   e. Downloadable Files:

8. COVERAGE: N/A

9. TIME PERIOD OF COVERAGE: N/A

10. POINT OF CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
    Alice Kaufman
    Office of Site Remediation & Restoration
    EPA New England
    1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 (RAA)
    Boston, MA 02114-2023
    617- 918-1064
    

11. RESPONSIBLE PARTY:
    Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1064
    Office of Site Remediation & Restoration
    

12. DATE OF CREATION: 10/06/03

13. AGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: N/A

14. EXPIRATION DATE: 11/06/03