EPA watchdog finds nation’s most contaminated sites are vulnerable to flooding, wildfires
The US Environmental Protection Agency's internal watchdog has found that about 100 of the nation's most contaminated toxic waste sites are vulnerable to flooding and wildfires. This poses a potential public health threat to millions of Americans living in surrounding communities, with 3 million people residing within a mile of a Superfund site.
The EPA's Office of Inspector General has identified 100 Superfund sites at risk from natural disasters. These sites are prone to flooding, wildfires, or sea-level rise, with 49 in coastal areas and 47 in low-lying areas. The review found that site managers often fail to plan for damage from flooding and wildfires. The EPA is reviewing the findings, which highlight the need for robust plans to protect communities. The Superfund program aims to clean up hazardous sites, but the lack of planning for extreme weather events poses a risk to public health. The findings echo a 2017 investigation that found 327 Superfund sites vulnerable to flooding driven by climate change.
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