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Video: We Are CHD
September 11, 2023

Indiana Superfund Sites

factory in the background and blue toxic waste barrels in the foreground

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during the 1970’s there were two toxic waste dumps that received a lot of national attention. In response, Congress created the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, And Liability Act (CERCLA) in 1980, which is now informally called the Superfund. The Superfund allows the EPA to approve cleanup of sites, either by the EPA or by the responsible party.

A site gets designated as a Superfund site if it meets certain criteria. The EPA uses the Hazard Ranking System to determine the potential threat to human life based upon what type of toxins are on that site and how much is present. Sites with a score of 28.5 or greater are eligible to put on the National Priorities List (NPL).

Toxins that leak into our groundwater or are dispersed into the air can have a negative effect on our health. The more common types of chemicals include VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), heavy metals, PFAS (so-called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down), and others. It is important to know where these toxic locations are so that you can better protect your family and advocate for a clean environment.

According to Wikipedia, as of June 2022, Indiana has over five dozen Superfund sites. Here are the rankings by county:

  1. Elkhart – 7
  2. Lake – 7
  3. Marion – 4
  4. St. Joseph – 4
  5. Bartholomew – 3
  6. Boone – 3
  7. LaPorte – 3
  8. Monroe – 3
  9. Howard – 2
  10. Owen – 2
  11. Vigo – 2
  12. Allen – 1
  13. Cass – 1
  14. Grant – 1
  15. Hancock – 1
  16. Jackson – 1
  17. Knox – 1
  18. Kosciusko – 1
  19. Madison – 1
  20. Morgan – 1
  21. Tippecanoe – 1
  22. Vanderburgh – 1
  23. Whitley – 1

To find more information on toxic sites identified by the EPA in your area, you can search the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) Where You Live Map.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management can investigate the following issues:

  • Open burning of trash or other materials
  • Asbestos removal
  • Fugitive dust
  • Proper use of outdoor hydronic heaters
  • Open dumping of trash or other debris
  • Manure handling and storage by regulated farms
  • Handling and storage of hazardous wastes
  • Problems with drinking water systems and wastewater system
  • Stormwater run-off from active construction sites
  • Discharges of pollutants from industrial facilities with a wastewater or stormwater permit
  • Activities in wetlands and streams that includes the placement of fill material into the wetland or the stream

If you have concerns about a potential violation in your community, you can file a complaint here.