EPA Further Expands NPL List - Is Your Company a Potentially Responsible Party?
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.
If your company may be affected by the addition or proposed addition of these sites to the NPL, please reach out to our K&L Gates team for more information, including assistance developing a path forward.
This publication/newsletter is for informational purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be used or relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer. Any views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the law firm's clients.
