Administrator's Emphasis List
This is a list of Superfund sites from across the United States that Administrator Wheeler has targeted for immediate and intense attention. This list is in direct response to the Superfund Task Force Recommendations, issued July 25, 2017, calling for this list.
In developing this list, EPA considered sites that can benefit from Administrator Wheeler's direct engagement and have identifiable actions to protect human health and the environment. These are sites requiring timely resolution of specific issues to expedite cleanup and redevelopment efforts. The list is designed to spur action at sites where opportunities exist to act quickly and comprehensively. The Administrator will receive regular updates on each of these sites.
The list:
- Is intended to be dynamic. Sites will move on and off the list as appropriate. At times, there may be more or fewer sites based on where the Administrator’s attention and focus is most needed.
- There is no commitment of additional funding associated with a site’s inclusion on the list.
- Is presented in order by EPA region.
See Questions and Answers for the Administrator's Emphasis List
EPA remains dedicated to addressing risks at all Superfund sites, not just those on the list. The Task Force Recommendations are aimed at expediting cleanup at all Superfund sites and the Administrator has continued to set the expectation that there will be a renewed focus on accelerating work and progress at all Superfund sites across the country.
See Previous Versions of the Administrator's Emphasis List
As of July 2019, the list is:
| Site | EPA Region | City or County | State | NPL Status | Upcoming Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohawk Tannery | 1 | Nashua | New Hampshire | Proposed |
Issue the Non-Time Critical Removal Action Memo in Summer 2019. Complete negotiation of a redevelopment agreement with a prospective purchaser. |
| Olin Chemical | 1 | Wilmington | Massachusetts | Final | Propose a remedy for public comment in Autumn 2019. |
| Arsenic Mine | 2 | Kent | New York | Proposed | Consider public comment on the proposal to list the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) and make a final determination. |
| Universal Oil Products + | 2 | East Rutherford | New Jersey | Final | Issue Record of Decision in Summer 2019. |
| L. A. Clarke & Son | 3 | Spotsylvania | Virginia | Final | Non time-critical removal action – Issue Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for public comment in October 2019. EE/CA is a non time-critical Removal Action for creosote source material. Removal Action Plan 5 – Finalize Revised Human Health Risk Assessment and Final Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment in Fall/Winter 2019. |
| Petroleum Products Corporation | 4 | Pembroke Park | Florida | Final | Issue for public comment proposed remedy to address source/soil and groundwater contamination by end of calendar year 2019. |
| U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc. (aka USS Lead or East Chicago) + | 5 | East Chicago | Indiana | Final | Operable Unit (OU) 1-Zone 1 land use decision - EPA issued the Proposed Plan to public for comment in November 2018. Public comment period closed mid-March 2019. Sign the Record of Decision Amendment for Zone 1 in calendar year 2019. OU 1-Zone 2 - Complete all soil remediation in Winter 2019-2020. OU 1-Zone 3 - Complete all soil remediation in Summer 2019. |
| Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River * | 5 | Kalamazoo | Michigan | Final | Complete settlement agreement(s) to support continuing cleanup effort. |
| St. Regis Paper Co. * | 5 | Cass Lake | Minnesota | Final | Proposed Plan was released to the public for comment June 18, 2019. Sign Record of Decision for residential soil cleanup in Fall 2019. |
| San Mateo Creek Basin | 6 | Grants Uranium Mining District | New Mexico | Not on NPL | Obtain responsible party commitments by Fall 2019 to conduct an equivalent Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study for the Central Study Area. |
| Des Moines TCE (aka Dico Company) | 7 | Des Moines | Iowa | Final | Complete settlement agreement(s) to support cleanup and redevelopment. |
| Bonita Peak Mining District | 8 | San Juan County | Colorado | Final | Develop an adaptive management plan and site strategic plan by the end of calendar year 2019 and Long-Term Site Strategy by June 2020. |
| Anaconda Co. Smelter | 8 | Anaconda | Montana | Final | Complete negotiations for implementation of early actions to address human health exposure, followed by site-wide work. |
| Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area | 8 | Butte | Montana | Final | Memorialize Agreement in Principle in a Consent Decree. |
| Orange County North Basin | 9 | Fullerton | California | Proposed | Complete public comment process and make final NPL listing decision or reach an agreement by Fall 2019 on an alternative approach to achieve cleanup. |
| Portland Harbor + | 10 | Portland | Oregon | Final | Complete settlement agreement(s) to support cleanup. |
| Quendall Terminals | 10 | Renton | Washington | Final | Complete the Proposed Plan for OU-1 and issue for public comment in Summer 2019 and sign Record of Decision in Fall 2019. |
* Administrator Andrew Wheeler is recused from these sites. All decisions, engagement, and involvement at these sites will be made by Associate Deputy Administrator and Chief of Operations Henry Darwin.
+ Peter Wright, Special Counsel to the Administrator, is recused from these sites.