Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Funding to Spur Cleanup at Jacobs Smelter Site in Stockton, Utah
Statement
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) applauded an announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the Jacobs Smelter Superfund Site in Stockton, Utah, will receive funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act--the bipartisan infrastructure bill negotiated by Romney and his colleagues--to complete critical cleanup actions and protect human health and the environment. The Tooele County site is among 49 sites across the nation that will benefit from a $1 billion investment from the bipartisan infrastructure bill to initiate cleanup and clear the backlog of previously unfunded Superfund sites and accelerate cleanup at dozens of other sites across the country.
The funds will be used to remove approximately 70,000 tons of lead and arsenic contaminated surface and subsurface soils at the Waterman Smelter area of the Jacobs Smelter Site. The State of Utah will receive these funds through a cooperative agreement with EPA to conduct these cleanup activities, which are expected to be completed within a year to eighteen months, once groundwork is initiated.
"I was proud to negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which will better position Utah and our country to meet the infrastructure-related challenges of the 21st century," said Senator Mitt Romney. "Because of this legislation, we will be able to deliver long-needed resources to communities like Stockton, which have been awaiting funding to address environmental and health issues as a result of contaminated land."
"This is a big victory for the health and safety of Stockton residents and visitors," said Stockton Town Mayor Thomas Karjola. "I want to thank Senator Romney for ensuring that this project was included in the BIL."
"We are excited for the action that the EPA is taking and cleaning up the Jacobs Smelter Site," said members of the Tooele County Council. "We are grateful for Senator Romney and his championing of this effort in Washington and for Mayor Karjola for putting it on the radar screen and getting it moving along here in our county."
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