EPA watchdog: Superfunds at climate risk
An EPA watchdog report says nearly 100 of the nation’s most toxic Superfund sites are vulnerable to flooding and wildfires, amplifying public‑health and environmental justice risks for frontline communities. That vulnerability raises immediate questions about cleanup priorities and emergency planning in the Northeast. (insurancejournal.com)
The EPA Office of Inspector General published a three‑part review that mapped risks to 157 federal‑facility Superfund sites, issuing sea‑level findings June 30, 2025 and inland‑flooding and wildfire evaluations on March 25, 2026. (epa.gov) The OIG counted 49 federal Superfund facilities potentially at risk from sea‑level rise or increased storm surge, 47 sites the OIG flagged as vulnerable to inland flooding, and 31 sites identified with potential wildfire risk. (storymaps.arcgis.com) The OIG used EPA mapping datasets, FEMA’s National Risk Index and Forest Service data to estimate exposure and reported that roughly 3 million people live within one mile of a federal facility Superfund site and about 13 million live within three miles. (storymaps.arcgis.com) In assessing preparedness, the OIG reviewed Five‑Year Review reports from 2021–2025 for inland‑flood at‑risk sites and found 21 of 37 reviewed reports acknowledged flooding risks while 16 did not address those risks. (storymaps.arcgis.com) Regionally, the OIG spotlighted Brunswick Naval Air Station/Brunswick Landing (a 3,100‑acre NPL site) as a federal facility with measurable flood and sea‑level threats; Brunswick Landing remains under active EPA/Navy remediation and has seen PFAS firefighting‑foam releases tracked by state and federal agencies. (epa.gov) (newscentermaine.com) The wildfire evaluation noted that 71% of the wildfire‑vulnerable sites are concentrated in EPA Regions 8–10 (western states) and that the March 25, 2026 wildfire report contained no formal recommendations requiring a response. (epa.gov)
