What is Superfund

When established the Superfund program initiated a tax on chemical and petroleum industries to, thus creating a “super-fund” to cover the costs of cleaning up abandoned or otherwise unsupervised hazardous waste sites throughout the country. (EPA, 2011) CERCLA provides authority to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to remediate sites under the Superfund program. In addition to creating the fund for cleanup of these sites (when the responsible person(s) are not identifiable, unavailable or, unable to provide clean up) CERCLA also creates rules and restrictions for closed and abandoned hazardous sites, as well as rules of liability for responsible parties to the contamination to assist in the cleanup process. The program is able to respond to both short term emergency threats that need immediate action, as well as longer term programs, which may require significant site remediation, but do not pose an immediate threat to the lives of residents in close proximity to the site. (EPA, 2011)

For sites to be remediated under the CERCLA and the Superfund process, they must be placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). There are three methods by which a site can be placed on the NPL; the first is the Hazard Ranking System (HRS). The HRS examines both risk and pathways of contamination to determine through a complex formula to what extent a site poses a threat to human health. These risks include; the possibility that the site has or will release hazardous substances into the environment, the type and quantity of the materials disposed on site, characteristics of the waste (e.g. toxicity and waste quantity), and the potential number of people impacted by an existing or future release. In addition to the risk assessment the HRS also examines the pathways of contamination; ground and surface waters, soil, and air. (EPA, 2011)

In addition to the ranking received via the HRS sites can also be placed on the NPL based on two other mechanisms. State or Territorial authorities are able to designate one site on to the NPL, regardless of how it is scored on the HRS. Lastly, sites can be placed on the NPL if they meet the following three criteria; a health advisory is issued by the Public Health Services recommending evacuating residents from the site, the EPA deems the site as posing a health threat, and the EPA determines it to be more cost effective to remediate the site via Superfund than to remove effected residents. (EPA, 2011)

The Superfund process has many steps, and can be very lengthy, from discovery of a site through final remediation and delisting from the NPL. After a site is initially identified it first goes through a Preliminary Assessment and Inspection to determine the extent of release of hazardous compounds, and if an immediate emergency response is required. If an immediate response is not required the site goes for review if it should be placed on the NPL, under the processes previously discussed. Once placed on the NPL the site will undergo a feasibility study for remedial work, to determine the specific causes and severity of the pollution on site, what methods can be used to treat the contamination, the costs of the remediation. After these studies are complete a Record of Decision is issued indicating what remediation methods will be used at the site and why. (EPA, 2011)

At this point the site enters into the remediation design and action phase, in which the chosen method for cleanup is undertaken from a technical perspective both design engineering of the process and actual, physical work at the site. After the remediation action is finished the site is designated “Construction Complete” this indicates that the onsite work is completed, however the full remediation of the site may yet to be achieved to designated levels of contamination. From this point the site moves into post-construction action, assuring the future protection of the site and long term plans, to maintain the site, with site reviews at designated intervals. If at this point the remediation actions have been successful the site can be removed from the NPL and redevelopment of the site can occur to extent that is suitable in each specific situation. (EPA 2011)