Businesses in New York State have spent some $3.1 billion since 1979 to clean Superfund sites for which they were liable, a new state report shows.
That figure represents 62 percent of the nearly $5 billion spent on Superfund sites since 1979, said Ken Pokalsky, The Council's environmental specialist.
These numbers are among the data report in a new report from the state Department of Environmental (DEC), the 2001 New York State Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Remedial Plan.
The report highlights environmental cleanups during that period during the 2000-01 state fiscal year which ended last March 31. It also describes policies and strategies of the state's Superfund program, DEC said in a release.
The plan notes that:
- Funds from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act (EQBA) were fully committed during this 2000-01 fiscal year. The EQBA provided $1.1 billion for state-funded remedial activities at state Superfund sites
- Approximately 800 sites have either been fully remediated by DEC or private responsible parties or have received full funding for remedial activities. DEC also identified nearly 800 additional sites which are not fully funded that require or may require remediation.
- Remedial activities are under way at 534 inactive hazardous waste disposal sites throughout the state.
- DEC issued 53 orders on consent and amendments to orders on consent with responsible parties, committing them to pay for or conduct remedial activities.
- There were 107 municipal brownfield investigation and remediation projects in 53 communities across the state identified to receive $21.4 million in grants from the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.
- DEC executed 196 voluntary cleanup program agreements with volunteers to address 255 projects. Of these projects, volunteers, using private funds, have completed 33 investigations and 50 cleanups.