Lesson 93: Cleaning Up the Mess
In this lesson, we will look at how the federal government has addressed
groundwater pollution. We will also learn about Superfunds, which are areas
designed for cleanup due to hazardous toxic waste. Finally, we will discuss the
number one source of groundwater contamination - LUSTs, or Leaking Underground
Storage Tanks.
One of the main concerns of toxic waste disposal is the clean up of groundwater
that was contaminated. To protect the public from the risk of toxic chemicals
in contaminated drinking water, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act of
1974.
The EPA set standards to protect public health. If contaminants exceed these
maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), then the water supply has to be closed until
there are additional purification procedures in place. The EPA set MCLs for 94
contaminants.
Superfunds are
areas designated through legislative actions to be cleaned up because of their
hazardous toxic waste. After the Love Canal incident, Congress enacted the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
(CERCLA) known as Superfund. By taxing raw materials, the law provided a trust
fund to identify chemical waste sites, protect groundwater, clean up
groundwater supplies if contained, and clean up the sites.
Cleanup involves using specific technology, bioremediation through plants, and
limiting access to the area until the threat no longer exists.
Today, there are over 11,300 SuperFund sites left to clean up.
LUSTs are Leaking Underground Storage Tanks.
Underground fuel storage tanks at gas stations lower the risk of fires and
explosions but also hide leaks. Without monitoring,
underground leaks can go undetected until residents nearby begin to
smell fuel-tainted water flowing from their faucets.
Underground leaks have to be remedied in
72 hours or less. Some service stations have fiberglass tanks that
do not corrode.
By 2011, 413,000 cleanups were completed. There are still over 80,
000 left to be addressed. States have reported that
LUSTs are the number one source of groundwater contamination.