Superfund

Years of disregard for the dangers of hazardous waste left a legacy of contaminated land and water that poses serious threats to people’s health, and the natural environment. In 1980, Congress gave EPA responsibility for hazardous waste cleanups and responses to environmental emergencies, spills, and natural disasters under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, known as Superfund. EPN provides recommendations to EPA on how to improve this vital program as well as technical assistance to communities living near current or potential Superfund sites.

April 19, 2024

Environmental Protection Network Welcomes EPA’s Designation of PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances Under Superfund

On April 19, 2024, the Environmental Protection Network released a statement welcoming EPA’s designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under superfund. [Read more]

Superfund Toxic Substances

April 17, 2024

EPN Sends Letter to Congressional Committees on PFAS Exemptions from CERCLA

On April 18, 2024, EPN sent a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding legislation…

Superfund Toxic Substances

May 6, 2022

EPN Comments on Draft Environmental Justice Plan for EPA’s Land Protection and Cleanup Programs

EPN submitted comments on OLEM's Environmental Justice Action Plan. EPN supported EPA’s and OLEM’s goal to proactively achieve environmental justice by building on its past…

Environmental Justice Superfund

March 17, 2022

EPN Commends the Update to the Superfund National Priorities List

EPN released a media advisory in response to EPA’s update to the Superfund National List of Priorities. It sets the stage for further EPA actions…

Press Statements Superfund

August 12, 2020

Cleaning Up Superfund Sites

EPA must support a strong Superfund program, which is central to any effort to address the cumulative toxic effects faced unjustly by too much of…

Superfund

February 11, 2018

EPA Core Programs—Superfund

The EPA has been responsible for hazardous waste cleanups and response to environmental emergencies since 1980, and has thus established the Superfund program as well…

Budget and Appropriations Core Programs Fact Sheets

December 29, 2017

Cleaning Up the Nation’s Worst Toxic Sites Threatened by Proposed Budget Cuts

Proposals to cut EPA's budget by the Trump Administration endangers many of the agency's most important programs, like Superfund, which cleans the country's most contaminated…

Budget and Appropriations FY2018 Budget Cuts

September 25, 2017

EPN Comments on the EPA Superfund Task Force Report

Administrator Pruitt's Superfund Task Force presented recommendations for expediting the cleanup of the Nation's most hazardous sites, many of which were significant departures from tested…

Superfund Task Force

August 13, 2025

Trump’s EPA Turns to New Tools for Faster Superfund Cleanups

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator, and Walter Mugdan, former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator, spoke with Bloomberg about the implications of the Trump administration’s efforts to…

In The News via Bloomberg

April 21, 2025

Sludge Contaminated 10,000 Acres of Farmland. What Should Be Done?

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in The New York Times. For years a textile mill…

In The News via The New York Times

March 24, 2025

Breaking Down What Deregulation Means for Landfills

EPN was mentioned in an article by WasteDive about how the regulatory rollbacks announced by EPA will immediately affect populations near waste sites.

In The News via WasteDive

January 15, 2025

‘A Trash Can For The US’: Anger in Mexico and Canada Over Toxic Waste Shipments

Barnes Johnson, former Director, EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, was quoted in The Guardian about exporting hazardous waste from the US to Mexico…

In The News via The Guardian

November 12, 2024

Trump EPA Expected to Slow PFAS Actions, But Vary On Rule Repeals

Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing how the Trump administration could undo EPA’s…

In The News via Inside EPA

July 2, 2024

EPA May See Difficulties Defending CERCLA PFAS Rule After Chevron’s End

Walter Mugdan, former EPA Region 2 Deputy Regional Administrator and Superfund Director, was quoted in Inside EPA about how overturning the Chevron deference will affect…

In The News via Inside EPA

June 11, 2024

EPA’s Coal Ash Crackdown Comes With a Major Caveat

Barnes Johnson, former Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management, was quoted in E&E News about an updated…

In The News via E&E News

April 20, 2024

EPA Designates 2 PFAS as Hazardous Substances, Increases Liability Risk for Producers

Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted in The Port City Daily about the…

In The News via Port City Daily

April 19, 2024

EPA Designates ‘Forever Chemicals’ For Enforcement Under the Superfund Program

Tracey Woodruff, former EPA Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the new Superfund…

In The News via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel