By Philip L. Comella and Craig B. Simonsen

The Obama Administration has proposed reducing funding for the Hazardous Substance Superfund Remedial program by $33 million. According to the Whitehouse EPA budget summary, this level of budget cut will “ensure that this reduction does not negatively impact public health.” The Administration maintains that the proposed funding level will be sufficient to enable EPA to respond to emergency releases of hazardous  substances and to circumstances that place the public at imminent risk of exposure and harm. Reductions therefore will be “targeted largely to non-time critical activities that address long-term remediation goals.”