Toxicity in the US : Context of Superfund Sites
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This page features an analysis of toxic sites in various scales of the United States. The EPA is analyzing the relationship between Superfund sites and locations impacted by climate change. Climate change may increase the frequency and intensity of certain natural disasters, which could damage Superfund sites—the nation’s most contaminated hazardous waste sites. This can help understand the level of remediation necessary for each Superfund site. The Des Moines TCE Superfund site is on the list of places impacted by climate change, this context was created to help understand where and why we need to increase risk management of Superfund sites.
What is a Superfund site? A Superfund site is a term created by the EPA to give funds and authority to clean up contaminated sites in the US. In 1980 Congress established the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) also known as Superfund.
According to the EPA the goals are :
Learn more about the process EPA uses to clean up Superfund sites.
US Scale Toxic Sites
According to the EPA, Superfund is the principal federal program for addressing sites containing hazardous substances. EPA lists some of the most seriously contaminated sites—most of which are nonfederal—on the NPL and has recorded over 500 contaminants, including arsenic and lead, at those sites. Climate change may make some natural disasters more frequent or more intense, which may damage NPL sites and potentially release contaminants, according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment.
The pink dot represents the amount of toxic places in the US, the orange dots are sites impacted by climate change.
Midwest Scale Toxic Sites
Available federal data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on flooding, storm surge, wildfires, and sea level rise suggest that about 60 percent of all nonfederal National Priorities List (NPL) sites are located in areas that may be impacted by these potential climate change effects.
Iowa Scale Toxic Sites
Climate change may increase the frequency and intensity of certain natural disasters, which could damage Superfund sites—the nation’s most contaminated hazardous waste sites.
Des Moines Scale Toxic Sites
The Des Moines TCE is on the map for climate change impact, specifically due to its proximity to a flood zone.
More info: the EPA is currently reviewing a new process of innovation focused on standardizing and improving info on boundaries of sites. In June of 2020 the EPA stated they have a group of Superfund analysts to help research the impacts of natural disasters and weather. There is a recommendation to also research the potential impacts of climate change and effects onto risk assessments on health.
Open status of the EPA Actions:
"As of June 2020, EPA stated that it will be issuing a memorandum that would provide direction on integrating information on the potential impacts of climate change effects into risk response decisions at nonfederal NPL sites in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020. In December 2020, EPA stated that the memorandum is now expected to be released in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. At that time, we will review the memorandum to determine if it is responsive to our recommendation."
California and New Jersey are two of the largest concentrations of Superfund sites and are the most vulnerable to climate change. In this post-industrial society there are more and more sites needing dramatic remediation.
Resources:
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-73#summary_recommend
https://www.cryopolitics.com/2018/02/28/americas-toxic-site-alaskan-arctic/
https://www.northeastern.edu/environmentalhealth/mapping-a-contamination-crisis/
https://www.dsm.city/city_of_des_moines_gis_data/index.php
https://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/fii_query_dtl.disp_program_facility?p_registry_id=110000384138
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
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