The Nation : Private Firms’ Superfund Role Criticized

Private contractors have virtually taken control of the Superfund toxic waste cleanup program, reaping hefty profits for work that is often sloppy and costs too much, the Office of Technology Assessment charged. The congressional agency sharply criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for fostering a network of outside consultants and engineers who have gained “considerable influence” over Superfund activities while avoiding the official controls and public scrutiny of government employees. Only a handful of the thousands of toxic waste sites nationwide have been cleaned up in eight years of Superfund. In designing Superfund, Congress planned a strong role for private contractors thought to have the expertise to remove toxic wastes quickly and effectively without the need for a huge new bureaucracy. But as contractors received 80% to 90% of Superfund’s annual budget, their responsibilities grew.