Climate Change and the Nation’s Most Contaminated Hazardous Waste Sites | U.S. GAO

Climate change may increase the frequency and intensity of certain natural disasters, which could damage Superfund site—among the nation’s most contaminated hazardous waste sites. For instance, flooding from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 damaged several Superfund sites in the greater Houston area.

Since most Superfund sites (about 90%) are located on nonfederal land, we identified nonfederal Superfund sites and the natural hazards (such as wildfires and flooding) that might impact them.

Check out our recent interactive graphic for details on each of these Superfund sites and their potential hazards. To learn more about climate change and Superfund sites, visit the full report page.

Comments on GAO’s WatchBlog? Contact blog@gao.gov.

Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Environmental Protection Agency

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Climate change

Floods

Hazardous materials

Hazardous waste sites

Natural disasters

Wildfires

Natural Resources and Environment

GAO Contacts

J. Alfredo Gómez

Director

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