We will seek all perspectives and attempt to build consensus on improvements to the Superfund program to ensure that the clean up of contaminated sites are performed expeditiously and effectively. One issue to be addressed by the working group is whether to include hazardous substance sites in the State Superfund program. Other issues to be addressed include potential financing mechanisms, examining the State's Voluntary Cleanup Program, streamlining program processes, financial incentives and citizen participation. The State Superfund pays for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites when the parties responsible for the pollution are unwilling or unable to fund the cleanup. In these instances, the State Superfund is used to fund the cleanup and then DEC and the Attorney General's office go to court to recover costs incurred by the State from the polluter.
Any money recovered is returned to the Superfund for additional clean ups.
Superfund monies also are used for site clean up where no available responsible parties exist.