$1B more to clean up toxic waste

WASHINGTON >> Twenty-five toxic waste sites in 15 states will be cleaned up, and ongoing work at dozens of others will get a funding boost, as the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced a $1 billion infusion to the federal Superfund program.

The money is the third and last installment in $3.5 billion allocated under the 2021 infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden. It will help clear a backlog of hazardous sites such as old landfills, mines and manufacturing facilities targeted by the 44-year-old Superfund program.

Long-contaminated sites slated for cleanup include a former smelting plant in East Helena, Montana; an old textile mill in Greenville, South Carolina; and a New Jersey beach area blighted by lead battery casings and other toxic material used to build a seawall and jetty nearly 60 years ago.

The Raritan Bay Superfund site in Old Bridge, New Jersey, is one of three Superfund sites in the state that will receive new funding. New Jersey is one of several states with more than one project included in the latest round of federal spending. Four sites in Pennsylvania, including the former Valmont Industrial Park in West Hazleton, will receive funding, as will three sites in California and two in New York.

In all, projects in 15 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico., will receive federal funds.

The money also will be used to speed cleanup of 85 ongoing Superfund projects across the United States, the EPA said. The agency has vowed to clear a longtime backlog in the Superfund program, established in 1980 to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances.

The program languished for years because of a lack of funding but has been replenished after Congress included a “polluter pays” tax in the 2021 infrastructure law. The tax took effect in 2022 and is set to collect up to $23 billion over the next five years, said Rep. Frank Pallone, DNew Jersey, who pushed for reinstatement of the tax in the 2021 law. Pallone was chairman of the House Energy and Committee at the time and now is the Republican-led panel's top Democrat.

“Superfund sites threaten public and environmental health across the country,” including New Jersey, Pallone said, “but with today's announcement, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to deliver on the promise we made to clean up backlogged sites and give our communities the peace of mind they deserve.”

Tuesday's announcement follows more than $1 billion announced in February 2023 and $1 billion announced in December 2021.

“After three rounds of investments, EPA is delivering on President Biden's full promise to invest in cleaning up America's most contaminated Superfund sites,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. She called the funding announcement “an incredible milestone in our efforts to clean up and protect communities, deliver local jobs, enhance economic activity and improve people's lives for years to come.”

Of the new cleanup sites announced Tuesday, nearly 80% are in low-income or minority communities that are chronically overpolluted, McCabe said.

Thousands of contaminated sites exist across the country.