EPA's Task Force Recommendations To Revamp And Expedite Superfund Cleanups And Process – A Welcome Change

While the Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA") Superfund program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act or "CERCLA" has often been dubbed the "Comprehensive Employment and Retirement Lawyers Act," due to the arduous and time consuming process of remediating Superfund sites---EPA is seeking to expedite this process with sweeping changes (which could lead to an earlier retirement for environmental lawyers).

An EPA Superfund Task Force, specially convened on May 22, 2017 by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, completed its work in short order with the release of its report on July 22, 2017 (the "Task Force Report"), which identified 5 goals, 13 strategies, and 42 recommendations to (1) expedite Superfund cleanups; (2) re-invigorate responsible party cleanup and reuse; (3) encourage private investment; (4) promote redevelopment and community revitalization; and (5) engage partners and stakeholders. By memorandum, dated July 25, 2017, Mr. Pruitt