CERCLA, acronym for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, is a United States federal law enacted in 1980 with the primary objective of addressing hazardous waste sites, toxic substance releases, and environmental contamination. Also known as the Superfund Act, CERCLA established a framework for the identification, assessment, and cleanup of such sites, as well as for holding responsible parties accountable for the costs associated with the remediation process.
Under CERCLA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is empowered to respond directly, or through delegated authority, to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may pose a significant risk to human health or the environment. The Act provides for the establishment of a National Priorities List (NPL), which identifies the most critical hazardous waste sites in the country, ensuring that they receive priority attention for remediation efforts.
CERCLA also institutes a liability scheme aimed at holding responsible parties accountable for the costs associated with cleanup and restoration efforts. Potential responsible parties include current owners and operators of contaminated sites, past owners or operators at the time of release, and parties involved in the transportation or disposal of hazardous substances.
The Act provides funding mechanisms, primarily through the Superfund Trust Fund, which is financed primarily through taxes on certain environmental activities and industries, to support the remediation of hazardous waste sites and related activities. CERCLA has played a significant role in addressing and mitigating environmental contamination across the United States, ensuring the protection of human health and the environment.
