EPA took action Sept. 16, 2011, on 26 Superfund sites in 18 states and Puerto Rico. Superfund sites generally are considered among the most toxic in the country, due to contamination from industrial operations, mining, military activities, landfills, and other sources.

EPA made a final designation of Superfund status for 15 sites, adding them to the National Priorities List. The lengthy and complicated cleanup process for each site likely will take some time, and has many implications for local communities. The sites are in CA, GA, IL, IN, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, SC, TN, and TX. For the names and locations of the sites, see the EPA press release of Sept. 15, 2011.

• "EPA Advancing Clean Up at 15 Hazardous Waste Sites, Proposing 11 Sites for Action." [2]

For more information on each, search by name of site at:

• National Priorities List, Final National Priorities List (NPL) Sites — by Site Name. [3]

EPA also proposed 11 more sites for Superfund status, in CA, FL, ME, MO, MS, NY, PA, PR, TX, and WA. The public comment period ends Nov. 15, 2011. For more information on each, search by name of site (from the press release above) at:

• National Priorities List, Proposed National Priorities List (NPL) Sites — by Site Name. [4]

For the Sept. 16, 2011, Federal Register notices addressing these 26 sites, see:

• National Priorities List, Current NPL Updates: New Proposed and New Final NPL Sites. [5]