White House Wants Cleanup Funds Freed

The White House said it will press Congress to release $650 million to clean up Superfund toxic waste sites, charging lawmakers with holding the program hostage to meet the demands of polluters. Congress approved the funds last year, but said the administration could not spend the money unless the lapsed Superfund law to restore sites fouled with toxic and chemical waste was reauthorized by May 15. With Republicans and Democrats deadlocked over bills to revamp the program, the deadline passed Friday and most congressional sources see little chance of a bill passing Congress before it adjourns for the year in October. Without the money, the administration said 51 cleanups will be delayed and about 120 will not get underway.