WHEREAS, It is estimated that over 70 million Americans, including 10 million children, reside within 4 miles of a Superfund toxic waste site; and
WHEREAS, Many illnesses, including birth defects, infertility, breathing problems and other serious health issues have impacted numerous Americans living near Superfund hazardous waste sites; and
WHEREAS, These Superfund locations contain a wide array of contaminants, including lead, arsenic, PCB's and volatile organic compounds; and
WHEREAS, There are currently over 1,200 final sites on the Superfund's National Priority List, including over 1,000 non-federal sites; and
WHEREAS, One of the locations awaiting remediation can be found in our own backyard, the Franklin Slag Pile site, located in the Bridesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, American taxpayers are now bearing the cost of cleaning up a majority of Superfund sites for which no responsible party can be found; and
WHEREAS, The Polluter Pays Tax, which expired in 1995, would provide approximately $1.7 billion dollars annually to clean these Superfund sites, including the Franklin Slag Pile; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby urges President George W. Bush and the members of the United States Congress to restore the Superfund Polluter Pays Tax in 2004. The people of the City of Philadelphia support the principle that the industries responsible for polluting our land should bear the fiscal responsibility to clean up the pollution that they have created.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That certified copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the President and members of the United States Congress.
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