Steve Jawetz Discusses the Superfund Program with Bloomberg Law

Principal Steve Jawetz (Washington, DC) recently spoke with Bloomberg Law about how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is visibly prioritizing Superfund site cleanups under the second Trump administration.

In “Trump’s EPA Shifts to Make Superfund Cleanups a Central Mission,” Steve explained that “superfund activities are concrete, rather than intangible—relative to regulations, for example—and therefore easy for the public to understand.”

Steve recalled the first Trump administration’s focus on redeveloping Superfund sites, noting that the administration incentivized private investment in cleanup work, an idea that could intrigue EPA’s current leaders.

“When discussing concerns over potential EPA staffing shortages, Steve noted that if the Agency “simply orders things to happen faster without providing adequate staffing or resources, everyone stands to lose.” He added that “local stakeholders will be frustrated when artificial schedules are not met, and the parties being directed to perform or fund the work will be frustrated by the schedules that don't result in any benefit but threaten to waste money.”

For nearly four decades, Steve has helped clients manage and resolve complex remediation and natural resource damages (NRD) matters under CERCLA and similar state statutes imposing liability for hazardous substance releases. 

Beveridge & Diamond’s Superfund, Site Remediation, and Natural Resources Damages practice group assists clients in litigation and allocation of CERCLA sites, including complex, large-scale sites. We counsel clients on developing case law and requirements under CERCLA and state-equivalent hazardous waste laws.