Jan. 5 saw the EPA release a draft of its environmental justice plan for Superfund and other programs that protect and clean up land. The plan aims to improve community engagement in the selection of Superfund remedies and in the future reuses of the site. If the plan is properly managed, communities would be able to play a significant role in the selection of the Superfund remedy and future reuse decisions. This would benefit the most affected population from hazardous waste sites. It also would help to initiate the Superfund reforms that many stakeholders desire.
To address the most hazardous sites in the United States, Congress created Superfund. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, (CERCLA), was passed in 1980. It is intended to address waste disposal sites that pose a threat to the environment and human health.