Home / Environment / EPA Superfund Plan Sparks Outrage in Richmond
EPA Superfund Plan Sparks Outrage in Richmond
23 Sep
Summary
- Community groups reject EPA's $93.4 million cleanup plan.
- Decades of pollution in Lauritzen Channel remain a concern.
- Residents question effectiveness and fairness of the EPA's approach.
The EPA has proposed a $93.4 million plan to address contamination at Richmond's Heckathorn Superfund site, but community advocates deem it insufficient. The Richmond Shoreline Alliance (RSA) criticizes the plan for not ensuring a complete cleanup of the Lauritzen Channel, citing concerns about the effectiveness of capping and the temporary nature of carbon solutions. This follows a failed cleanup in the 1990s, with recent studies showing DDT levels significantly exceeding targets.
The community's alternative proposal, developed with experts, calls for draining the channel for a more thorough removal of contaminated soil and debris. Residents are also concerned about the EPA's plan failing to account for sea level rise and the potential risks of toxic material disposal, recalling past issues with off-site dumping near Native American reservations. The EPA's plan is scheduled for public comment until December 29, with community meetings planned to facilitate resident input.
The Heckathorn site's contamination stems from chemical disposal dating back to the 1940s-1960s. Decades of remediation efforts have yielded limited success, leaving residents in adjacent low-income, predominantly Black and Latinx communities facing persistent health issues and environmental injustice. The current EPA proposal aims to dredge and cap contaminated areas, remove sediment, and install source controls, but falls short of the community's demand for a comprehensive, long-term solution.
