United States solid waste And September 1991
Environmental Protection Emergency Response
°M4°' 530F91002
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
4>EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
Superfund Progress Across the Nation:
Environmental Indicators FY1991 Update
Superfund is the Nation's program to clean up uncontrolled hazardous
waste sites. Superfund's first concern is to take action whenever an immediate
threat is discovered. Second, sites that pose the greatest potential risk to human
health and the environment are placed on a National Priorities List (NPL) for
long-term cleanup of contamination. Superfund sites are located in every State
and potentially affect more than 41 million people who live within four miles of
an NPL site.
The following information summarizes the environmental results of the
thousands of actions taken to protect both people and the environment from
contamination:
1. Reducing Immediate Threats: Controlling Threats to People and
the Environment
• Actions are taken to reduce risk at sites whenever there is an
imminent threat to human health and the environment.
• Superfund has completed actions to reduce immediate
threats at 1,760 NPL and non-NPL sites.
• At the 507 NPL sites where actions have been completed,
the potential risks posed by exposure to hazardous waste
have been reducedror 23.5 million people who live in a 4-
mile radius.
• A population (450,000) equivalent to that of Atlanta, Geor-
gia has been provided with a safe alternative water supply.
• A population (30,000) equivalent to a near-capacity crowd
at Boston's Fenway Park has been relocated from sites
posing immediate risks.
EPA National Fact Sheet -Environmental Indicators FY 1991 Update ?ageiof4
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Figures la and Ib present the nature of actions taken at NPL and Non-NPL sites to protect
human health and the environment.
Figure la
Nature of Actions Taken to Protect Human Health and Environment: NPL Sites
Making SIM* Sato: Total NPL Sites
SOT
NPL
Site*
Removal, Treatment, or Containment
• 411.000 people provided with
an alternative water supply.
Population Relocation
26
Site*
• 4.00O people either temporarily
or permanently relocated.
lOiO -
October 1. 1999 - O*e»mb»f 31. 199O
Note: Number o» action* add up-lp nwra than total number ol •*••;
Any •<• may have mere than one kind at cleanup action.
Figure Ib _
Nature of Actions Taken to Protect Human Health and Environment Non-NPL Sites
Reducing Immediate Throats: Non-NPL Site*
222
1,253
Site*
Removal, Treatment, or Containment
264
= 1,149
Site*
: 267
Site*
Alternative Water
• Mora than 37,000 people provided
with an alternative water supply.
• More than 25,000 people either
temporarily or permanently relocated.
J98O - SeptomOtr 30. 1989
Octotntl. T989-Oece/nt>er3>, I09O
Note- 1) Number ol actions add up 10 more than total number ol site*. Any site may
have more than one kind ot cleanup action.
2) Number ot srtes with these actions is based on a study universe ol 578 sitm.
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EPA National Fact Sheet—Environmental Indicators Pn 991 Update
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2. Progress Toward Permanent Cleanup Goals
• Long-term (permanent) cleanup goals established for a site ensure that the
site is protective of human health and the environment both now and in the
future.
• Achieving long-term cleanup goals for sites posing problems that were
decades in the making is an incremental process. Just as the cleanup of our
rivers occurs years after sewage treatment plants are constructed, progress
toward Super fund's site cleanup goals occurs incrementally over time.
• The surface is now clean at 196 NFL sites; and 373 NPL sites have completed
actions resulting in progress toward permanent cleanup (e.g., achieving
long-term health and environmental goals). See Figure 2.
Figure 2
NPL Sites with Progress Towards Permanent Cleanup Goals
Sitaa with Cleanup Prograa*
= 373
Sites
Land
Surf aca Watar
= 64
Sites
= 333
Sites
= 97
Sites
1980 - September 30. 1989 Q October 1. 1989 • December 31, 1990
Note; Any site may have more than one medium contaminated
EPA National Fact Sheet - Environmental Indicators FY1991 Update
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3. Bringing Technology to Bear Removing Contamination from the Environment
• Over 54% of NPL sites with Progress Toward Permanent Cleanup have used
treatment technologies.
• Superfund is increasing its use of treatment technologies - in 1990,79% of the
remedies selected to control the source of contamination included treatment
technologies.
Superfund has handled large quantities of waste in its cleanup activities.
Figure 3.) Wastes handled to date include:
(See
Figure 3
Nearly 13 million cubic yards of contaminated soils and other solid
wastes, a volume which would cover a football field more than a mile
high;
Over 6 billion gallons of groundwater, enough to provide the popula-
tion of New York City its drinking water for nearly 5 years;
Over 1 billion gallons of liquid wastes, or 4 gallons for every person in
the United States; and,
Over 300 million gallons of surface water, or 1 gallon for every person
in the United States.
Cleanup Activities Waste Handled
PATHWAY
Land Surface:
Soil
Solid Waste
Liquid Waste
Groundwaten
Surface Water
Sediments
CUMULATIVE VOLUMES
MANAGED
Cumulative Volume
1980 - December 31, 1990
5,930,000 cubic yards
7,000,000 cubic yards
1,055,000,000 gallons
6^50,000,000 gallons
316,000,000 gallons
15,000 cubic yards
Copies of this fact sheet, or of the full national report may be obtained by requesting Reporting on Cleanup Activities
Through Environmental Indicators.
Superfund Document Coordinator
Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code OS-240,401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20460.
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EPA National Fact Sheet - Environmental Indicators FT 1991 Up
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