Map showing eight Superfund sites impacted by record flooding in the U.S. Midwest. Data: NOAA, EPA. Graphic: Bloomberg
Map showing eight Superfund sites impacted by record flooding in the U.S. Midwest. Data: NOAA, EPA. Graphic: Bloomberg

By Christopher Flavelle
26 March 2019

(Bloomberg) – Major flooding across the U.S. Midwest has reached at least eight Superfund sites in three states, and kept EPA staff from determining whether any are leaking toxic chemicals as a result.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it is unable to access the sites containing arsenic, benzene, cyanide and other toxins, because of the floodwaters inundating the facilities.

“Due to the current state of flooding impacts to roads, it is not safe for EPA personnel to inspect impacted sites,” Maggie Sauerhage, an agency spokeswoman, said by email. “At this time, we have no indication of contaminant releases from impacted sites.”

Environmental advocates said that’s not good enough.

“That’s a public health threat,” said Elena Craft, senior director for climate and health at the Environmental Defense Fund. “We’re not getting in there to do the testing.”

The affected sites include a defunct ordnance plant, a chemical disposal facility and a former manufactured-gas plant, and some contain radioactive waste in addition to dangerous chemicals. At least three of those sites already faced the risk of contaminated groundwater movement before the flooding started earlier this month, according to EPA data. […]

The risk of chemical exposure is likely to expand to other sites around the region. Federal weather officials warned this week of “record flooding from now through May.”

The EPA has long warned that more intense flooding caused by climate change threatened to dislodge chemicals around Superfund sites. In 2014, the agency released a so-called Climate Adaptation Plan, which said that “inundation and flooding may lead to transport of contaminants through surface soils, ground water, surface waters and/or coastal waters.”

As the threat from climate change grows, “there is a critical need for more information,” Craft said. “EPA’s just not fulfilling its mission in terms of providing the public health protection that they’re obligated to.” [more]

Midwest Floods Have Reached Superfund Sites in Three States, EPA Says