Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
-
CERCLA, commonly
known as Superfund, was enacted by Congress on December 11, 1980.
CERCLA:
- established
prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned
hazardous waste sites.
- provided
for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous
waste at these sites.
The law authorizes
two kinds of response actions:
- Short-term
removals, where actions may be taken to address releases
or threatened releases requiring prompt response.
- Long-term
remedial response actions, that permanently and significantly
reduce the dangers associated with releases or threats of releases
of hazardous substances that are serious, but not immediately
life threatening. These actions can be conducted only at sites
listed on EPA's National Priorities List (NPL).
For
more information on CERCLA visit www.epa.gov/superfund/action/law/cercla.htm |