By Adam Allington
Today, the Senate subcommittee that oversees the EPA’s Superfund program is scheduled to hold a hearing on the program’s work. Under EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the agency is refocusing its attention on these sites. Some claim that Pruitt’s sudden interest in Superfund is really a strategy to shift EPA’s focus away from climate change. “Look at this shiny new object, it’s small. And ignore the pulsating, big object next to you,” says University of Chicago economist Michael Greenstone, who argues that Superfund cleanups are a relatively small part of EPA’s function and will become even smaller if White House budget cuts are approved by Congress. “Budgeting is about priorities, and I think the risks from climate change are currently greater than the risks from Superfund sites.”
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