Through the advances of technology, this country has become a highly industrialized nation. For many years, we did not recognize the inherent dangers associated with the by-products and wastes generated from these processes. Before laws were put into place to manage the proper disposal of hazardous waste, much of it was dumped or buried in areas with little or no consideration for protecting our land and water. Cleaning up these inactive hazardous substance sites, or Superfund sites, requires a great deal of time and money.

At least 1,035 sites have been identified in Tennessee that require investigation to determine their potential for creating a public health or environmental hazard. Of these, 155 sites have been fully investigated and placed on a formal list of inactive hazardous substance sites to be cleaned up. An additional 70 sites have been cleaned up. There are currently 17 sites either on or proposed to be added to the EPA National Priorities List. Three of these sites are federal facilities.

A recently passed amendment to the state's Superfund law formalized the Voluntary Cleanup Oversight and Assistance Program, which has been in development for two years. This program is expected to speed up site cleanup, using the resources of those responsible for the contamination. From an initial pilot program of six sites, the program grew to 32 sites within a month after Governor McWherter signed the new legislation.

Through a cooperative effort with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the state oversees the cleanup of DOD facilities and former defense sites in Tennessee. The state is also working with the U.S. Department of the Navy, EPA and DOD to accelerate the cleanup of those portions of the Memphis Naval Air Station being disposed of as result of the 1993 Base Realignment and a Closure process.

Tennessee has worked closely with EPA to identify, investigate and clean up inactive hazardous substance sites in the state. The program has also focused on getting potentially responsible parties to assume responsibility for site cleanup and on developing innovative programs to ensure that some stage of cleanup activity is ongoing at more of these sites.