February 23

On February 23, 1983, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed its intention to purchase all properties in Times Beach, Missouri, due to widespread dioxin contamination. The chemical dioxin, a toxic byproduct of industrial waste, was found at dangerously high levels after the town’s roads were sprayed with contaminated oil for dust control. The decision to relocate the entire community was unprecedented and highlighted growing concerns over environmental health. Residents were offered compensation packages and assistance in finding new homes. Cleanup efforts continued for years, and Times Beach was eventually dissolved as an incorporated town. In 1997, the site became part of Route 66 State Park after extensive remediation. This event marked a milestone in the EPA’s Superfund program and set standards for future environmental disaster responses.

On February 23, 2010, a coordinated act of eco-sabotage struck the Lambro River in northern Italy. Perpetrators opened valves at a nearby industrial facility and released more than two and a half million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the waterway. The toxic spill decimated local wildlife, turning fish kills into floating hazards and contaminating drinking water supplies for surrounding communities. Authorities declared a state of environmental emergency as cleanup crews battled slicks stretching for miles. Investigations uncovered lapses in facility security, and legal proceedings sought to hold the perpetrators accountable. The disaster fueled public outcry and spurred reforms in industrial waste monitoring and river protection regulations.