What's New
One in four Americans live within four miles of a Superfund toxic waste
site. The major polluters that create these toxic sites are not only
jeopardizing the health of millions, they are also sticking American
taxpayers with the cleanup bill. In April of 2006, U.S. PIRG released a
report that showed that since 2004, taxpayers have paid more than $3.8
billion to clean up after polluters at Superfund sites. As a result,
Americans are paying for Superfund toxic waste sites twice, with our
health and our tax dollars.
How You Can Help
Tell your senators
to support reinstatement of the Superfund "polluter pays" fees to
ensure that polluters, not taxpayers, pay to cleanup toxic waste sites.
Background
Toxic substances contaminate the land, air, surface waters and
groundwater in communities across the country. In 1987, Congress
created the Superfund to clean the nation’s worst toxic sites.
Insufficient funding jeopardizes existing Superfund cleanups
and hinders the identification and assessment of new sites. In 1995,
the Superfund “polluter pays” fees that once compelled large-scale
polluters to provide money for Superfund cleanups expired. Lacking
ample cleanup money, the EPA must prolong existing site cleanups and
postpone cleanups at new sites.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina damaged chemical facilities and
churned up toxic waste at Superfund sites across the Gulf region.
Unforturnatly, the funding shortfalls that plague the Superfund program
may hinder its ability to respond to the toxic polluton left in the
hurricane's wake. Environment Connecticut is calling on Congress to
restore the “polluter pays” fees and provide full funding for the
Superfund Program.
