What's New
One in four Americans live within four miles of a Superfund toxic waste site. In New Jersey, we have 114 of these sites, more than any other state in the nation. That’s shocking, considering our small size. Worse, many of our Superfund sites are 20+ years old.
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.
On tax day 2006, U.S. PIRG, the federation of state PIRGs released a report, "Taxpayers Pay to Clean Up After Polluters," which 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
There
is a new bill in Congress that would generate the funds needed to clean
our toxic waste sites by taxing polluters. This bill faces tremendous
industry opposition, and we need your help to pass it.
Ask your
Representative and to cosponsor the bill.
Overview
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. Unfortunately, the funding shortfalls that plague the Superfund program may hinder its ability to respond to the toxic pollution left in the hurricane's wake.
NJPIRG is calling on Congress to restore the “polluter pays” fees and provide full funding for the Superfund Program.
