Two Senators released a General Accounting Office audit on Thursday showing a 35 percent drop in funding for the Superfund program.

The drop was measured by adjusting for inflation. Sens. James M. Jeffords (I-Vt.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said the Superfund program has lost $633 million since 1993.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it is dedicating money to cleanup large, complex toxic waste sites. Smaller sites are being paid for by polluters, according to a top official.

In past years, the EPA budget cut money for the Tar Creek site in Oklahoma, the worst toxic site in the nation where 70 million tons of mine waste are sitting on land owned by individual Indians and members of the Quapaw Tribe. The tribe has sued several mine companies to force cleanup of the land.

Get the Story:
Senators Ask For Larger Superfund (The Washington Post 2/20)

Relevant Links:
Tar Creek Information Site - http://www.tarcreek.org
Tar Creek, State of Oklahoma - http://www.deq.state.ok.us/LPDnew/Tarcreek

Related Stories:
Quapaw tribal members vote to settle trust lawsuit (02/02)
Quapaw casino manager also partner in chat deal (12/17)
Quapaw Tribe sues companies over mine pollution (12/15)
Paper posts critique of Tar Creek plan on website (12/12)
Quapaw Tribe to sue mining companies for cleanup (08/18)
EPA changes mind on Superfund funds (7/22)
Bush cutting cleanup funds for Okla. site (7/2)
EPA criticized for Superfund cuts (7/2)
EPA cleanup funds being slashed (7/1)
Tar Creek mold confirmed (4/23)
Head of EPA urged to visit Okla. site (9/11)
BIA aiding cleanup of Okla. site (9/7)
End of mine waste moratorium praised (8/30)
Sale of mine waste cleared for Okla. Tribe (8/22)