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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General

At a Glance

16-P-0059
December 9, 2015

Why We Did This Review

We conducted this review to
determine whether the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) can provide documentation
that imminent and substantial
endangerment threats to public
health at Superfund time-critical
removal action sites have been
addressed. The EPA's Superfund
removal program responds to
immediate threats to public health
and the environment from
releases of hazardous
substances, pollutants or
contaminants. For example, in
2013, the EPA removed
approximately 1,400 cubic yards
of lead-contaminated soil and rock
from 10 residential yards in
Missouri due to immediate public
health threats. Time-critical
removal actions must be initiated
in less than 6 months. EPA
officials estimate that 300
Superfund removals are
conducted every year, with an
approximate $100 million budget.

This report addresses the
following EPA goal or
cross-agency strategy:

• Cleaning up communities and
advancing sustainable
development.

EPA Is Documenting How It Addresses Time-Critical
Public Health Risks Under Its Superfund Authority

What We Found

We found that the EPA can provide
documentation that imminent and substantial
endangerment threats to public health at
Superfund time-critical removal sites have
been addressed. In a detailed review of three
sites located in three separate EPA regions,
we found that site removal records contained documentation to support EPA
regions' conclusions that immediate threats to public health and the
environment from releases of hazardous substances were addressed. Further,
we surveyed all 10 EPA regions and found that regions were consistent in
citing national guidance and regulations requiring documentation of time-
critical removal actions. This provides added assurance that the practices in
the three regions we tested are followed throughout EPA regions.

Time-critical removal actions are vital to public health protection. EPA
documentation of work conducted at time-critical removal action sites provides
assurance that imminent human and environmental health issues are
addressed. Therefore, we make no recommendations.

For more information on
hazardous waste cleanups
near you, visit the EPA's
Cleanups in Mv Community
webpage.

Send all inquiries to our public
affairs office at (202) 566-2391
or visit www.epa.gov/oiq.

Listing of OIG reports.


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