On 17 March 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the addition of twelve sites to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).¹ The EPA has determined that releases of contamination at these sites pose risks to human health and the environment, and is taking action for the health, safety, and revitalization of affected communities. The EPA also announced the proposed addition of five additional sites to the NPL, which are currently open for public comment. Many of these sites are in overburdened or underserved communities.

The following sites are being added to the NPL:

• Lower Neponset River, Boston/Milton, MA ²

• Meeker Avenue Plume, Brooklyn, NY ³

• Bear Creek Sediments, Baltimore County, MD ⁴

• Paden City Groundwater, Paden City, WV ⁵

• Westside Lead, Atlanta, GA ⁶

• Galey and Lord Plant, Society Hill, SC ⁷

• National Firewords, Cordova, TN ⁸

• North 5th Street Groundwater Contamination, Goshen, IN ⁹

• Michner Plating - Mechanic Street, Jackson, MI ¹⁰

• Southeast Hennepin Area Groundwater and Vapor, Minneapolis, MN ¹¹

• Unity Auto Mart, Unity, WI ¹²

• Bradford Island, Cascade Locks, OR ¹³

For these sites which have been newly listed on the NPL, the EPA will likely issue potentially responsible party (PRP) determination letters and request that PRPs participate in a remedial investigation/feasibility study as next steps. The following sites are being proposed for addition to the NPL:

• Lower Hackensack River, Bergen and Hudson Counties, N.J. ¹⁴

• Brillo Landfill, Victory, NY ¹⁵

• Georgetown North Groundwater, Georgetown, DE ¹⁶

• Hercules Inc., Hattiesburg, MI ¹⁷

• Highway 3 PCE, Le Mars, IA ¹⁸

For these sites, the EPA is still receiving public comments for consideration, prior to making a final determination on the site’s status.

ENDNOTES

¹ EPA News Release: EPA Updates Superfund National Priorities List, to Clean Up Pollution, Address Public Heath Risks, and Build a Better America https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-updates-superfund-national-priorities-list-clean-pollution-address-public-health-0

² Lower Neponset River, Boston/Milton, MA Fact Sheet

³ Meeker Avenue Plume, Brooklyn, NY Fact Sheet

⁴ Bear Creek Sediments, Baltimore County, MD Fact Sheet

⁵ Paden City Groundwater, Paden City, WV Fact Sheet

⁶ Westside Lead, Atlanta, GA Fact Sheet

⁷ Galey and Lord Plant, Society Hill, SC Fact Sheet

⁸ National Fireworks, Cordova, TN Fact Sheet

⁹ North 5th Street Groundwater Contamination, Goshen, IN Fact Sheet

¹⁰ Michner Plating – Mechanic Street, Jackson, MI Fact Sheet

¹¹ Southeast Hennepin Area Groundwater and Vapor, Minneapolis, MN Fact Sheet

¹² Unity Auto Mart, Unity, WI Fact Sheet

¹³ Bradford Island, Cascade Locks, OR Fact Sheet

¹⁴ Lower Hackensack River, Bergen and Hudson Counties, NJ Fact Sheet

¹⁵ Brillo Landfill, Victory, NY Fact Sheet

¹⁶ Georgetown North Groundwater, Georgetown, DE Fact Sheet

¹⁷ Hercules Inc, Hattiesburg, MI Fact Sheet

¹⁸ Highway 3 PCE, Le Mars, IA Fact Sheet