Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Information

Superfund Basic Research Program

With the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Congress granted the federal government the authority to locate, investigate, and clean up the hazardous waste sites that threatened the health and safety of the public and the environment. CERCLA also created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries that was placed in a trust fund (the "Superfund") intended to clean up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) administers the Superfund program in cooperation with individual states and tribal governments.

Between 1980 and December 2002, the Superfund program, along with State and Tribal partners, has assessed nearly 44,420 sites. 33,106 sites (75%) have been removed from the Superfund inventory to help encourage economic redevelopment, while 11,312 sites remain active with the site assessment program, or are on the National Priorities List (NPL).

To learn more about Superfund, its goals and accomplishments, visit the EPA Superfund website (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/) .