What’s going on?
In the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, innovations in science, manufacturing, and industrialization left companies optimistic for the future. However, the development of synthetic chemicals led to a dirty problem—where to dispose of the waste. As manufacturing facilities, processing plants, and mining sites increased in production, so did the amount of toxic waste, with no consensus on where it should be dumped.
In 1976, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) established federal rules for waste disposal. Still, facilities were identified for mishandling chemicals and using unregulated disposal methods. Improper waste disposal contaminated soil and water, putting public and environmental health at risk. An increase in birth defects and chronic health issues in contaminated areas culminated in another call for federal action.
In 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to seek out toxic waste polluters and ensure their cooperation for cleanup. “Superfund” was created with a trust to pay for cleanup when nobody else could be held accountable. Hazardous and polluted areas were thus named “Superfund sites,” and placed on a National Priorities List for cleanup.
Superfund’s goals are to:
- Protect human health and the environment by cleaning up contaminated sites
- Make responsible parties pay for cleanup work
- Involve communities in the Superfund process
- Return Superfund sites to productive use
Why it matters.
Superfund sites may be closer than you think. Florida has the seventh highest number of Superfund sites in the US.
Gainesville’s closest Superfund site, Cabot/Koppers, is only 15 minutes from the center of UF campus. The facility began operation in the early 1900s and was used for wood treatment and the manufacturing of pine tar and charcoal. In 1984, the discovery of contaminated groundwater and soil led the EPA to list the facility as a Superfund site. Hazardous waste and soil contaminated with arsenic and lead was removed from the facility and the surrounding Stephen Foster neighborhood. As of March 2024, remediation still isn’t finished.
Some studies have shown that living near Superfund sites can lead to higher rates of chronic health issues, including cancer. Homeowners often do not have a choice to avoid Superfund sites. Moving away from a Superfund site is often extremely costly, and sometimes requires a family to leave behind a neighborhood or community that they rely on. In particularly hazardous cases, the EPA and federal agencies have paid for the relocation of entire neighborhoods.
What you can do.
The EPA has several sources you can use to find Superfund sites in your area. This interactive map shows hazardous waste sites and cleanups that may be in your community.
If you feel like not enough is being done for your nearest Superfund site, become involved in community engagement efforts. Often, limited federal funding is the major reason for a lack of remediation efforts. Many communities claim they had to become a “squeaky wheel,” urging action before their government recognized the problem. The EPA website has an extensive list of resources and suggestions for interested communities to make their voices heard.