September 8, 2004

CONTACT: Arthur Stamoulis
215) 567-4004 ext. 222

Toxic Waste Sites in Pennsylvania Shortchanged on Federal Cleanup Funds
Franklin Slag, Crossley Farm and Havertown PCP Sites Get Zero Funding, Despite Requests for Millions by Regional EPA Staff

Philadelphia, PA - According to a recent Congressional analysis, clean-up efforts at forty-six toxic waste "Superfund" sites across the country, including several in Pennsylvania, received either no funding or inadequate funding during the federal government's 2004 fiscal year. The Franklin Slag Site (Philadelphia County), Crossley Farm Site (Berks County) and Havertown PCP Site (Delaware County) all received zero funding, despite requests for millions in clean-up dollars from regional Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff. Toxic waste sites in New Jersey and Delaware were also underfunded.

"Inadequate funding is preventing some of the most dangerous toxic waste sites in the region from being cleaned up as quickly and thoroughly as they should be," said Arthur Stamoulis, Policy Analyst for Clean Air Council, a statewide environmental group. "Toxic waste sites only make it onto the Superfund list if they pose a real threat to the community. It is shameful that the prompt cleanup of these sites is being impeded by a lack of funds."

EPA data show that there is an estimated shortfall for the year of at least $263 million for cleaning up the nation's worst Superfund sites. Superfund is the nation's leading toxic waste cleanup program. But it has been under intense financial pressure since 1995 when Congress allowed the "polluter-pays" tax on dirty industries that pays for cleanups to expire. The current Bush administration is the first since the program was created in 1980 to oppose reinstating the tax. Both of Pennsylvania's Senators opposed reinstating the Superfund tax earlier this year.

In Pennsylvania, the following sites will be getting zero money for cleanup efforts that EPA staff in the region have said is necessary:

• Franklin Slag Pile (Philadelphia County), where a gigantic pile of lead-contaminated waste is simply covered by a tarp.
• Crossley Farm (Berks County), where pollutants that have already contaminated groundwater supplies with trichloroethylene could migrate to contaminate surface water.
• Havertown PCP (Delaware County), where the soil and water has been contaminated with arsenic, dioxin and other contaminants.

The funding crisis affecting Pennsylvania is part of a larger trend. Over the past few years, fewer and fewer toxic waste sites have been getting the money to clean up. In 2002, the cleanup shortfall was estimated by the EPA Inspector General's office at $114.8 million and in 2003, the Inspector General found a shortfall of $174.9 million. This year's data, compiled from EPA data by the offices of Representatives John Dingell and Hilda Solis, show that the shortfall has increased 130 percent in just two years.

"This data shows that the Superfund program is running out of money," said Patty-Pat Kozlowski, Director of Port Richmond on Patrol and Civic Association (PROPAC), a community group near the Franklin Slag site. "EPA can try to downplay the bad news all they want. But where does that leave seniors living near the Franklin Slag Pile who have to worry whether they are being exposed to dangerous toxins? It was already a slap in the face to our community that this slag pile has been ignored for so long, but to give us zero dollars for clean-up is an absolute kick in the backside of this riverward community."

The Superfund Law was designed along the principle that the "polluters pay" to clean up their toxic wastes at these sites. Under the law, responsible parties would pay for a portion or all of the cleanup costs at the site. "Orphan Sites"-where no responsible party could be located-would be paid for out of the Superfund Trust Fund. The fund was financed largely through a tax on traditionally polluting chemical and oil industries. However, once the Superfund tax was allowed to expire in 1995, taxpayers were left with the lion's share of clean-up costs.

Nearly 70 million Americans-including 10 million children-live within four miles of a Superfund site. The most common pollutants from these toxic waste sites are heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, the human carcinogen benzene, PCBs, mercury and dangerous solvents that can cause kidney, liver and other cancers in humans. The Centers for Disease Control have found that a variety of health problems have been associated with many Superfund sites, including birth defects, low birth weight, infertility, and breathing difficulties.

"Earlier this year, we warned Pennsylvania's Senators that if the Superfund tax on polluting industries was not reinstated, cleanup at toxic waste sites throughout the state would face a significant slow down. They claimed the sites could be cleaned up without charging the polluters," said Stamoulis. "Well, look at what has happened now. There is no money to clean these sites, and public health and community development is in jeopardy because of it."

"Communities saddled with toxic waste sites need more than fences and plastic sheeting to protect their children," said Joy Bergey, Executive Director for the Center for Celebration of Creation. "The faith community calls on our elected officials to restore the Superfund tax on polluting industries. Without adequate cleanup dollars, how can justice and restitution ever return to these communities?"

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