IOWA NEWS SERVICE

September 30, 2004
Superfund Bankruptcy Anniversary

Des Moines --- One year ago today (Thursday), the Environmental Protection
Agency's Superfund Program, used to pay for clean up toxic waste sites, went
bankrupt.  Since then, the number of toxic clean-ups has dropped
dramatically. Comments from Tarah Heinzen with the Sierra Club of Iowa.

Suggested script:  IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE THE E.P.A.'S SUPERFUND PROGRAM
WENT BANKRUPT.  THE MONEY IN THE TRUST FUND WAS PAID PARTLY BY TAXPAYERS,
AND PARTLY BY INDUSTRIES, TO CLEAN UP TOXIC WASTE SITES. TARAH HEINZEN WITH
THE IOWA SIERRA CLUB SAYS NOW TAXPAYERS ARE FOOTING THE ENTIRE BILL.
Actuality Cut #58%%ID%% (TRT: 16) "Here in Iowa, taxpayers paid about two
million dollars for Superfund clean-ups in 1995, and now that the trust fund
is bankrupt we are paying about eight million dollars a year. So, four times
as much is coming out of taxpayer dollars when polluters should be cleaning
up their own messes."

SHE SAYS THE NUMBER OF CLEAN-UPS OF TOXIC WASTE SITES IS DOWN, EVEN THOUGH
THE NUMBER OF SITES THAT NEED CLEAN UP HAS GONE UP.
Actuality Cut #59%%ID%% (TRT: 10) "Since the Bush administration took
office, the number of Superfund clean-ups completed has been cut in half.
So, we are seeing a huge drop off in the rate of clean-ups happening across
the country."

Suggested tag:  HEINZEN SAYS THE NUMBER OF TOXIC WASTE SITES CLEANED UP HAS
GONE FROM 87 IN THE LATE 90s, TO 40 NOW.  JUST THIS YEAR, IOWA REQUESTED
MONEY FOR A CLEAN UP AND RECEIVED ONLY A THIRD OF THE AMOUNT NEEDED.


Editor's note: Tarah Heinzen is available for interviews at 515-251-3995.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]