Bush May Ask Congress to Revive Superfund Tax

Danielle Jackson

Washington, D.C. -- According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials, President George W. Bush may ask Congress to reimpose a polluter's tax to pay for Superfund cleanups.

The tax was phased out in 1995 when Congress refused to reauthorize it. Since then, the fund's revenues have fallen from $3.6 billion in 1996 to a projected $28 million at the end of 2003.

Superfund administrator Marianne Horinko told a Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee that the EPA will review the tax in the 2004 budget year, which begins in October 2003.

In his 2003 budget plan, Bush asked for $1.3 billion on the Superfund program, the same as for 2002.