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Superfund Sites
National Information
Region 7 Superfund Information
Arkansas City, Kansas
A small “mom and pop” restaurant now operates in a former gas station at the Arkansas City Dump Superfund site. Another portion of the site is now in use as an industrial park. For more information…
A Superfund site is any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment. EPA's Superfund program either funds the cleanup of the site, works with the state to clean up the site, or oversees cleanup by those responsible for the contamination. Superfund sites can include properties on the National Priorities List as well as emergency response sites that are potentially contaminated from the unexpected release of hazardous substances or oil. Some Superfund sites are old waste disposal facilities, while others are comprised of various types of industrial production facilities where unauthorized dumping and inadvertent spills occurred.
- Superfund Program Background
- Redevelopment of Superfund Sites
- Superfund Program Activities and Initiatives
- Superfund Redevelopment Partnerships
- Superfund Sites in Region 7
- Superfund Tools & Resources
- Superfund Redevelopment Contacts
Superfund Program Background
Years ago, people were less aware of how dumping chemical wastes might affect public health and the environment. On thousands of properties where such practices were intensive or continuous, the result was uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites, such as abandoned warehouses and landfills. Citizen concern over the extent of this problem led Congress to establish the Superfund Program in 1980 to locate, investigate, and clean up the worst sites nationwide.
The Superfund Program was created by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). The acts established authority for the government to respond to the release/threat of release of hazardous wastes, including cleanup and enforcement actions.
Since 1980, the Superfund program has been cleaning up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites across the nation. Long term cleanups at National Priorities List (NPL) sites last more than a year, while short term /emergency cleanups are usually completed in less than a year. More Superfund Information.
Redevelopment of Superfund Sites
While EPA's primary mission is to protect human health and the environment, Superfund cleanups have also been instrumental in returning contaminated sites to productive use. Region 7 has a Superfund Redevelopment Program whose goal is to help local communities and other interested stakeholders (developers, state and local governments) return some of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites to safe and productive uses. While cleaning up these Superfund sites and making them protective of human health and the environment, EPA and Region 7 are working with communities and other partners to consider future use opportunities and integrate appropriate reuse options into the cleanup process. This is helping local communities realize that the productive reuse of their formerly contaminated properties can have significant positive economic, environmental, and social impacts. The Superfund Redevelopment Initiative has developed frequently asked questions (FAQs) that may provide useful information about redeveloping Superfund sites.
Superfund Program Activities and Initiatives
Through its Return to Use (RTU) Initiative, EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment program works with stakeholders at Superfund sites across the country that have been cleaned up yet remain vacant due to real or perceived barriers to their reuse. The Superfund Redevelopment Initiative website provides more information about the Return to Use Initiative, including a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that offers general information about redeveloping Superfund sites.
Superfund Redevelopment Partnerships
EPA has formed partnerships with states, tribes, other federal agencies, local governments, communities, landowners, lenders, developers, and parties potentially responsible for contamination to help make Superfund sites ready for reuse. More information on Superfund Redevelopment Partnerships.
Superfund Sites in Region 7
Region 7 maintains a catalogue of Superfund sites where pollution is being or has been cleaned up throughout the Region. Sites are organized by state, and allow you to find site summaries, site profiles, contacts, and fact sheets.
Superfund Tools & Resources
EPA and Region 7 have developed many tools and resources that can help implement redevelopment activities at contaminated sites and properties. States and other stakeholders also have developed useful materials. Many of these tools are available electronically.