100 Reasons to Get Involved

Reason # 68: Make the Polluter Pay

In 1980, Congress established the Superfund law on two simple propositions: First, that hazardous waste sites should be quickly and thoroughly cleaned up; second, that polluters, not taxpayers, should bear the costs of the cleanup. In 1995, however, Congress allowed the tax on polluters to expire, and today the Superfund Trust Fund is bankrupt, leaving American taxpayers to foot the bill.