Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who leads the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, chaired a hearing focused on enhancing the future management of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program. The hearing emphasized the necessity of finding solutions to hasten cleanups, trim unnecessary costs, and examine reasons for prolonged timelines and elevated costs, which often surpass those of state-led or voluntary initiatives.

In her opening remarks, Capito underscored the need for the EPA to prioritize core environmental missions. "Today we will discuss challenges facing the EPA’s Superfund program and solutions to ensure it can live up to its full potential," she stated, highlighting the value of the program in handling the nation's most contaminated areas.

Capito reflected on the Superfund's original legislative goals, which sought prompt cleanup and accountability from polluters following its establishment in 1980 after notable environmental incidents. These objectives, according to Capito, have not been met as intended. "Communities now expect a Superfund cleanup to take more than a decade," Capito noted, expressing concern over the prolonged timelines that send mixed signals to nearby communities.

Despite achievements in environmental and public health through the cleanup of thousands of sites nationwide, Capito articulated concerns about the complexity of the law, which she believes prioritizes process over results. "In practice, the main winners in managing Superfund cleanups are the lawyers who profit from endless litigation, while communities wait for promised relief," she remarked.

Capito pointed out the financial and bureaucratic issues embedded within the current system, emphasizing the concept of the "Superfund premium" that inflates costs and extends timelines for cleanups compared to more straightforward state-managed efforts. She criticized the "entangled web of bureaucracy, work groups, task forces, and committees" that impede progress.

Calling for efficiency without compromising safety and health standards, Capito stated, "Accelerating the pace of Superfund cleanups does not mean cutting corners or sacrificing health protections." Rather, she called for clear plans with defined goals, stressing the need to prioritize cleanup efforts over enforcement.

Capito concluded her remarks hopeful for insights from the expert panel, eager to foster improvements in the Superfund program's effectiveness and accountability. "I look forward to hearing from today’s expert panel on how to improve the Superfund program’s efficiency and accountability," she said.