A Superfund site is a location in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and is designated for cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund. These sites are typically polluted with hazardous substances, such as toxic chemicals, heavy metals, or other pollutants that pose a threat to human health and the environment.
The Superfund program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1980 to address the cleanup of these contaminated sites. The program is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Superfund law allows the EPA to identify, assess, and prioritize contaminated sites and, when necessary, take action to clean up and remediate them. Cleanup actions are often costly and complex, and the responsible parties, such as the companies or individuals that caused the contamination, are usually held liable for the cleanup costs.
The U.S. military has had a historical connection to Superfund sites for several reasons.
There are several U.S. military bases that have been designated as Superfund sites by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), due to contamination from hazardous waste or other pollutants:
- Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: Camp Lejeune was a major Marine Corps base that became a Superfund site due to groundwater contamination with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), as well as other contaminants. The contamination primarily affected drinking water sources on the base.
- Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan: This former Air Force base was designated a Superfund site due to groundwater contamination with various chemicals, including volatile organic compounds and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs).
- Fort Ord, California: Fort Ord was a former Army base that became a Superfund site due to soil and groundwater contamination from various sources, including unexploded ordnance and other hazardous substances.
- Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida: This naval air station was designated a Superfund site due to contamination from chlorinated solvents (such as TCE) and other hazardous substances that had affected the soil and groundwater.
- McClellan Air Force Base, California: McClellan Air Force Base became a Superfund site due to widespread contamination from a variety of hazardous substances, including solvents, heavy metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).