EPA announces Superfund task force

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has announced the creation of a Superfund task force. The task force will provide recommendations within 30 days on how the EPA can streamline and improve the Superfund program, including restructuring and expediting the cleanup process, reducing the burden on cooperating parties, incentivizing parties to remediate sites, encouraging private investment in cleanups and sites and promoting the revitalization of properties across the country.

“I am confident that, with a renewed sense of urgency, leadership and fresh ideas, the Superfund program can reach its full potential of returning formerly contaminated sites to communities for their beneficial use,” Pruitt wrote in a memo to EPA staff.

Pruitt recently issued a directive for remedies of $50 million or more to be approved by the administrator to help revitalize contaminated sites faster.

Pruitt recently visited the USS Lead Superfund Site in East Chicago, Indiana, to view ongoing cleanup activities. He met with East Chicago residents, federal, state and local officials and pledged improved coordination and communication as cleanup continues. He was the first EPA Administrator to visit this Superfund site, which was listed on the National Priorities List of the worst contaminated sites in the country in 2009.

Pruitt’s full memo, issued May 22, 2017, is available at www.epa.gov/superfund/prioritizing-superfund-program-memo-epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-agency-management.