Dive Brief:
- ExxonMobil, BP, DuPont, and nine other private companies will pay more than $3.5 million to settle a suit with the EPA regarding the Metro Container Superfund Site in Trainer, PA.
- The companies will be required to remove hazardous waste at the site, which was added to the EPA's superfund site list in 2012. Additionally, an investigation of the contamination will be developed and shared with the surrounding community.
- The Metro Container site has been at the center of numerous hazardous waste concerns — including pesticides, PCBs, and volatile organic compounds. These contaminants can possibly seep into Stoney Creek and the Delaware River, causing concerns in the community.
Dive Insight:
The EPA's Superfund National Priorities List tackles the most uncontrolled hazardous waste sites causing conflict and concerns in the industry. Last month, the EPA said in a press release that the Superfund program "operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers." It added, "state partnership is critical to the cleanup."
By holding big oil companies accountable for their waste, the EPA is doing its part to keep local residents to the superfund sites safe. The investigation that the EPA will conduct at the Metro Container site will allow the EPA to "select an effective action to protect the surrounding community and nearby waterways," according to Environmental Leader.