Post your response to the questions below. Postings should be at least 1-2 compl
ID: 399545 • Letter: P
Question
Post your response to the questions below. Postings should be at least 1-2 complete paragraphs including in-depth content that demonstrates knowledge of the subject matter. Be sure to use correct grammar and spelling. Now that we have learned a bit about administrative agencies, investigate an agency such as the EPA, IRS, EEOC, FDA, FTC or FCC. Describe a major issue have they dealt with recently and give your opinion regarding the amount of power held by this agency. Ex. Is it good that the EPA can set pollution limits, enforce them, and exact punishment if rules are broken? (be sure to note the source(s) of your research findings).
Explanation / Answer
I investigated the press releases of EPA and learnt about their Superfund program to clear the waste sites in order to safeguard public health and the environment. The recent issue with EPA was about the Cortland’s exposure to harmful contaminants in the Magna Metals site. The families especially children health is at risk in Cortland. Magna Metals plant was concerned with metal plating, lacquering and polishing operations at its site. The plant discharged harmful contaminants into the environment including cyanide, copper, sulfates, zinc chlorides, lead, iron and nickel through leaching pits. As a result of the continuous discharge of these contaminants for more than 20 years, the groundwater and soil got contaminated. To worsen further, a stream nearby got contaminated with volatile organic compounds and metals. The entire furnace brook got contaminated affecting residents and homes with an approximate contamination of 1.5 miles of freshwater wetland in the area. This poses a serious threat to public health and the environment as a whole. Accordingly with the suggestion of EPA, the Magna Metals plant was demolished in 2013 but still the site poses health hazards with the buildings of the plant still being used for laboratory, office and warehousing purposes.
EPA took the remedial action by adding the Magna Metals site to the Superfund program and included the hazardous site in National Priorities List (NPL). This indicates the commitment of EPA in protecting the community public health interests and environmental protection as a whole. The core responsibility of EPA is to protect the American people from health hazards and provide economic and health benefits to communities across the U.S. EPA’s Superfund program is an initiative to clean up hazardous sites that pose risk to the environment and public health. This program is a critical part of the EPA mission. EPA with the support of New York State investigated the contamination by collecting samples. The studies conducted revealed the serious risk to the residents of Cortland and steps were taken to mitigate the risks immediately from the area. EPA installed a system to vent away from the gas from the warehouse and occupied office with the strong support from the department of environmental conservation of the New York State. EPA receives federal funding for sites included in the NPL and received funds to permanently clean up the Magna Metals site at Cortland. In the past year, about 487 Superfund sites have been cleaned up for reuse by about 6600 businesses. This created sales of $43.6 billion and employs about 156000 people with a combined income of $11.2 billion.