WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Energy Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Environment Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL), today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt expressing concerns over EPA’s list of 21 sites recently selected for prioritized cleanup under the Superfund program.
“During the Environment Subcommittee hearing the previous day, Members specifically asked you about the list, and despite many of the sites included being of particular concern to Committee Members, we did not receive any indication from you that these sites would be included," wrote the committee leaders. “The Superfund cleanup program already involves a significant amount of process, and it is not clear how creating another list of sites will expedite cleanups. Furthermore, it is not clear how the sites on the ‘Top-21 List’ were selected."
The members concluded, “In light of our concern in this area, we request that you provide the Committee with the following additional information:
1. Regarding how the decision was made to list the twenty-one sites, please explain what it means that you will provide “direct engagement," and how you think that your direct involvement at these sites will expedite cleanup and redevelopment efforts.
2. Who was consulted in making the decision about what sites to put on the List? We request that you provide the Committee with detailed information regarding the process undertaken, identify when the decision was made to include each of these twenty-one sites on the List, and identify who was consulted in making the decision about which sites should be included.
* Specifically, did EPA consult the States in which the sites are located?
* The potentially responsible parties at these sites?
* The Community Advisory Groups associated with these sites?"