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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today applauded the EPA’s proposal to add the Gelman Sciences plume to the to the Superfund National Priorities List. The NPL is a list of sites throughout the United States and its territories where historical releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants pose significant threats to human health and the environment. A 60-day public comment period begins March 7. 
 
“Including the Gelman Plume on the National Priorities List is critical to bringing federal priority and resources to help finally end this decades-long nightmare for the residents of Ann Arbor, Scio Township, and the surrounding communities. Too often our communities have been pitted against each other, but we know that we accomplish more when we work together,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell. "We have worked hard to bring everyone together to get this done, and I will continue to work closely with the EPA, and with our state and local lawmakers to see this through once and for all.” 
 
“Updating the National Priorities List is a critical component of EPA's comprehensive approach to protecting human health and the environment from contamination, including in communities overburdened by disproportionate environmental impacts,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Cleaning up contaminated land and groundwater and returning them for productive use to communities, especially those which have borne the brunt of legacy pollution, is a win for public health and local economies.”
 
“We’re proposing the Gelman site for the Superfund list to ensure that more federal resources are focused on tackling long-standing groundwater contamination in Washtenaw County,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “EPA’s robust community involvement program at Superfund sites would also enable us to directly address the concerns of residents and those impacted by the contamination from the facility over many decades.” 
  
Rep. Dingell has long advocated for the Gelman dioxane plume to be designated a Superfund site and has been working closely with the EPA to protect Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities and environment from the plume’s contamination.
 
The National Priorities List includes sites with the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the NPL are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
 
Sites must meet EPA requirements to be considered for the NPL. EPA must first propose a site for addition to the NPL and hold a 60-day comment period. EPA may add the site to the NPL if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
 
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24% within three miles of sites after cleanup.