Tennessee Small Business Alliance Questions Trump’s Commitment to Superfund Cleanups

For Immediate Release
January 16, 2018
Contact: Lenda Sherrell, State Director (lenda@businesstn.org)
(865) 388-9056

Tennessee Small Business Alliance Questions Trump’s Commitment to Superfund Cleanups

[Chattanooga, Tenn] — The Tennessee Small Business Alliance (TNSBA) is raising questions about the Trump Administration’s commitment to cleaning up Superfund sites in Tennessee and across the country. Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed adding the Southside Chattanooga Lead Site to the National Priorities List (NPL) for all Superfund Program sites nationwide, along with nine other sites.

“It’s important to Tennessee’s business and economic prosperity to see these highly contaminated Superfund sites cleared of their harmful pollution. However, cutting the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by almost a third worsens the local burden posed by these toxic sites that threaten human health while hindering the ability to create and grow businesses.” said Lenda Sherrell, Director of the Tennessee Small Business Alliance. “We are calling on Senator Alexander and Corker to oppose President Trump’s drastic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency that jeopardize the wellbeing of our state’s health and economy, and only undermine efforts like the clean up of the Southside Chattanooga Lead site.”

Tennessee currently has 18 locations listed on the Superfund National Priorities List. The state also has 130 brownfield sites in need of clean up for redevelopment and economic use.

The Trump Administration’s budget proposes to reduce the EPA’s budget by 30 percent, which means fewer resources for enforcement and emergency response to address the containmations that pose the greatest threat to public health and the environment.

Congress has until January 19th to pass a budget or another Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded.

About the Tennessee Small Business Alliance

The Tennessee Small Business Alliance promotes small business growth and prosperity by advocating for policy solutions that create a strong vibrant economy.  The Tennessee Small Business Alliance is a statewide nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization, founded and run by entrepreneurs to ensure Tennessee small businesses are a key part of an inclusive, equitable and diverse economy. For more details visit BusinessTN.org or text BIZ to 91990.

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