Evaluation of Blight Elimination Program and Demolitions Finds Hazardous Material Risks, Lack of State Agency Quality Assurance and Oversight

A new review conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) on behalf of SIGTARP found significant risks at the federal, state, and contractor level in the Hardest Hit Fund’s (HHF) $755 million Blight Elimination Program. These findings come nearly two years after SIGTARP warned the U.S. Department of Treasury that a similar review of demolitions in Flint, Michigan found program-wide risks of hazardous materials, illegal dumping, and contaminated soil.