The Environmental Protection Agen-cy official in charge of the Superfund program faced tough questioning from Senate Democrats at a June 15 subcommittee hearing. But EPA Assistant Administrator Susan Parker Bodine was supported by the panel’s Republican chairman, John Thune of South Dakota. Compared with Superfund’s early days, Thune said “EPA is doing more today to protect human health and the environment... especially at the large cleaup sites.” But Democrats charged the cleanup program is underfinanced and frequently inefficient.

Bodine testified that Superfund “has produced tremendous accomplishments,” but also said the agency could better manage the program.