Comment submitted by D. Prentice

COMMENT SUBMISSION Docket ID No. EPA?HQ?SFUND?1983?0002 Comment regarding the proposal to delete the Industrial Waste Control Superfund Site located in Fort Smith, Arkansas from the National Priorities List. To Whom It May Concern: I am a third-year law student at the University of Oklahoma, and am writing to comment on the proposal to delete the Industrial Waste Control Superfund Site located in Fort Smith, Arkansas from the National Priorities List. This comment is being submitted according to procedures mandated by statute and by the proposed rule in the Federal Register. I am in favor of deleting the Arkansas Superfund site from the National Priorities List. According to the EPA?s website, the National Priorities List exists to ?guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.? Based on my research I feel that there is no need for further investigation of the Industrial Waste Control Superfund site in Fort Smith, Arkansas. As noted above, the Arkansas Industrial Waste Control site is a Superfund site, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). As such it is funded by the taxes on energy and chemical companies established by CERCLA, for the purpose of cleaning up hazardous abandoned waste sites, and providing relief to families and communities affected by these sites. While it may be stating the obvious, removing the Arkansas site from the National Priorities List frees up funds and resources to be invested in other communities more immediately affected by hazardous abandoned waste sites. According to the EPA website, the physical cleanup for this Superfund site has been completed, and potential human exposure is under control. Large amounts of soil and water have also been treated and stabilized, and over 500 people have been relocated to avoid exposure. In light of the foregoing, I am in support of the EPA?s decision to delete the Arkansas Superfund site from the National Priorities List. Sincerely, David Prentice