EPA Inspector General Finds 100 Superfund Sites Vulnerable to Flooding and Wildfires

Key Points

• Approximately 100 Superfund sites are in areas vulnerable to flooding and wildfires
• The EPA's Office of Inspector General released two new reports on these vulnerabilities
• These sites pose potential public health threats to millions of nearby residents
• Cleanup plans often failed to account for climate-related damage risks
• The findings are part of an ongoing assessment of the 157 priority Superfund sites

Full Details

The EPA's Office of Inspector General has issued reports finding that about 100 of the nation's most contaminated toxic waste sites are located in areas prone to flooding and wildfires, creating a potential public health threat to millions of Americans in surrounding communities. These findings are part of a series of assessments examining the weather-related vulnerabilities of the 157 federal Superfund sites that have been prioritized for cleanup due to the serious risk they pose to public health and the environment. Despite these identified risks, the five-year cleanup plans for these sites often failed to account for damage from flooding caused by sea-level rise, more frequent storms, and wildfires. The reports highlight how climate hazards are amplifying existing environmental risks at the nation's most dangerous toxic waste sites.