Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Accomplishments Summary
The Superfund program's primary objective is the protection of human health and the environment, but
cleaning up contaminated sites also results in positive economic and social impacts for many
communities. By eliminating or reducing real and perceived health and environmental risks associated with
hazardous waste sites, Superfund cleanups help convert vacant and underutilized land into productive
resources; reduce blight, uncertainty, and other negative perceptions; and improve the aesthetics and
general well-being in communities surrounding the sites.
Superfund site cleanups also bring economic benefits to communities by facilitating job creation,
increased property values and enhanced local tax bases. Independent research has borne out the positive
effect of cleanups: a peer-reviewed study found that residential property values within 3 miles of
Superfund sites increased 18.6-24.5 percent when sites were cleaned up and deleted from the National
Priorities List (NPL).* As of the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, data EPA has collected at 450 of the 850 sites
in reuse indicate these sites support approximately 3,470 businesses with ongoing operations generating
annual sales exceeding $65.1 billion and employing more than 89,000 people, who are earning a
combined income of $6.0 billion.
EPA began reporting economic data related to Superfund redevelopment in 2011 in various documents
and on the Internet (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/economicimpacts.html). However,
the FY 2014 Accomplishments Summary is the first to contain economic data associated with reuse: the
agency will include this information in future annual accomplishment summaries.
Protecting communities' health and ecosystems remains the Superfund Remedial program's top priority
•	Increased the total number of NPL and Superfund Alternative Agreement (SAA) sites where EPA
actions controlled a potential or actual exposure risk to humans by 9, bringing the program's
cumulative total to 1,429 sites where exposure is under control.
•	Increased the total number of NPL and SAA sites where EPA actions controlled the migration of
contaminated groundwater through engineered remedies or natural processes by 11, bringing the
program's cumulative total to 1,123 sites where contaminated groundwater migration is under
control.
* Gamper-Rabindran, Shanti and Christopher Timmins. 2013. "Does cleanup of hazardous waste sites raise housing values?
Evidence of spatially localized benefits," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 65(3): 345-360,
lit tp: // dx. doi. org/1.0.1.01.6/j. i eem.201.2.1.2.001..

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EPA's Superfund Remedial Program prepared land for return to productive use and contributed to local
economies
•	Ensured 45 NPL and SAA sites had all long-term protections, including institutional controls, in
place necessary for anticipated use, bringing the cumulative total of sites ready for anticipated use
to 707.
•	Data EPA has collected at 450 of the 850 sites in reuse indicate these sites support approximately
3,470 businesses. These businesses" ongoing operations generate annual sales exceeding
$65.1 billion and employ more than 89,000 people, who are earning a combined income of
$6.0 billion.
EPA's Superfund Remedial Program obligated approximately $367 million to support construction and
post-construction activities
•	Obligated approximately $367 million in appropriated funds, state cost-share contributions and
potentially responsible party (PRP) settlement resources for construction and post-construction
projects.
EPA's Superfund Remedial Program funded new construction
•	Started 66 new remedial construction projects, including 38 government-funded projects and 28
PRP-funded projects, and continued to conduct or provide oversight at more than 41 3 remedial
construction projects started in prior fiscal years. EPA was unable to proceed with new
construction work at five (5) NPL sites with projects ready to start construction in FY 2014.
EPA's Superfund Remedial Program actively cleaned up hazardous waste sites
•	Completed all physical construction of the cleanup remedy at 8 sites across the country for a total
of 1,1 64 sites, or approximately 68 percent of NPL sites.
•	Completed 11 5 remedial action projects. These projects are the essential building blocks to
achieving overall site cleanup; their completion demonstrates progress in reducing site risks to
human health and the environment.
Superfund safeguarded communities from imminent threats posed by hazardous substances
•	Completed or provided oversight at 304 removal actions to address immediate and substantial
threats to communities.

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EPA's Superfund Remedial Program prepared for future cleanup efforts
•	Completed 794 remedial site assessments, for a cumulative total of 93,076 remedial assessments
completed since the program's inception in 1980.
•	Placed 21 new sites on the NPL, and proposed 1 6 sites to the NPL. The NPL had, at the end of FY
2014, 49 proposed sites and 1,706 final and deleted sites. EPA may delete a final NPL site if it
determines that no further response is required to protect a community's health or environment.
•	Selected 24 cleanup remedies and amended 12 cleanup plans.
•	Obligated more than $22 5 million in appropriated funds, state cost-share contributions, and
PRP settlement resources to conduct and oversee:
o Site assessments and investigations;
o Selection and design of cleanup plans; and
o Support for state, tribal, community involvement activities, and other activities.
EPA's Superfund Remedial Program ensures the long-term protection of communities' health and
ecosystems after construction is complete
•	Conducted 244 five-year reviews, including 42 reviews at Federal facility sites, to ensure site
remedies remain protective.
•	Deleted 14 sites from the NPL, and at 4 other sites, deleted a portion of the site from the NPL.
Superfund remains committed to the "polluter pays" principle
•	EPA obtained more than $453.7 million commitments from responsible parties to clean up
Superfund sites and billed private parties for approximately $89 million in oversight costs.
Additionally, responsible parties agreed to reimburse $57.7 million of EPA's past costs from
cleanup work at Superfund sites.
Unfunded New Construction Projects
Disclaimer: These accomplishments represent a "snapshot In time" (as of 9/30/14) and future numbers
may change based on data quality reviews, updates and corrections.

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