EPA Lays Out Superfund Streamlining Actions Under Strained Budget

摘要

Facing continuing budget constraints to the Superfund program, EPA is undertaking streamlining actions to revise aspects of the Superfund cleanup process, some of which track with recommendations made by a landmark 2012 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that suggested some groundwater sites are impractical to meet timely cleanup goals and should shift to passive management such as natural attenuation, sources say. EPA is also implementing program management and budgetary measures to counteract the shortfalls. The agency is undertaking the measures under the Superfund Remedial Program Review Action Plan, dated Nov. 26, driven by continued budget reductions in the program. The cuts led to a comprehensive review of the remedial program to evaluate the efficiency of cleanup processes now in place and its use of resources. The plan is available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details.