http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2013/ocean-plastics-pollution-11-18-2013.html

November 18, 2013
Contact: Emily Jeffers, (415) 632-5309 or ejeffers@biologicaldiversity.org

Plastic-covered Hawaiian Island Moves Toward Possible Superfund Designation

In Historic Step, EPA Will Assess Hazards of Plastic Pollution on Tern 
Island

SAN FRANCISCO— In response to a petition submitted by the Center for 
Biological Diversity, the Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to 
take a historic first step toward classifying a tiny Hawaiian coral 
island, Tern Island, as a Superfund site because of hazards posed by 
plastic pollution. The Center’s petition requested that the agency 
conduct a preliminary assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
and a portion of the enormous Pacific Garbage Patch within U.S. waters.

The EPA’s Superfund program is designed to identify and clean up the 
country’s most polluted areas. This is the first time the agency has 
considered using Superfund to address an area contaminated by plastic; 
it will be conducting studies on Tern Island, a remote airstrip and one 
of the largest tropical seabird rookeries in the world. In particular, 
the agency will focus on the toxicity threats posed by plastic debris to 
wildlife that inhabits the area.