Land and Cleanup
EPA conducts and supervises investigation and cleanup actions at a variety of sites where oil or hazardous chemicals have been released into the environment or when there is a threat of the release of these substances. Cleanup activities also may take place at active and abandoned waste sites, federal facilities and properties, and where above or underground storage tanks have leaked.
Major Environmental Laws
General Information
Read more basic information about cleanup.
Topics:
- Aboveground Storage Tanks
- Brownfields
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action
- Superfund
- Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
See also:
Aboveground Storage Tanks
Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) that store petroleum or hazardous substances are subject to both federal regulations and state/local regulations. Most ASTs need to meet Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements.
Brownfields
Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.
- Laws and Regulations
- Enforcement
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Policies and Guidance
- Policies and Guidance: Brownfields and Land Revitalization
- The Revitalization Handbook: Summarizes the federal statutory provisions and EPA policy and guidance documents that address the potential liability concerns of parties involved in the cleanup and revitalization of contaminated sites.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action
When solid or hazardous waste is not properly managed and contamination results at RCRA-regulated facilities, the RCRA Corrective Action program monitors and regulates the cleanup of the contamination.
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Laws and Regulations
- Corrective Action: Rules and Regulations: The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program, run by EPA and 41 authorized states and territories, compels responsible parties to investigate and cleanup hazardous releases. This page links to the rules and regulations related to the Corrective Action Program.
- Enforcement
- Policies and Guidance
Superfund
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, known as Superfund, was enacted to address abandoned hazardous waste sites in the U.S. The law has subsequently been amended, by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), and the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002.
- Laws and Regulations
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Compliance
- The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS): database that contains general information on hazardous waste sites and potential hazardous waste sites including location, status, contaminants, and cleanup and enforcement actions.
- Superfund Cleanup Process
- Enforcement
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Policy and Guidance
- Cleanup Enforcement: Superfund Cleanup Policies and Guidance
- Community Involvement Policies and Guidance
- HRS Toolbox: current guidance documents that may be used to determine if a site is a candidate for inclusion on the National Priorities List.
- Superfund Policies and Guidance
Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
The Underground Storage Tank UST) Program is primarily implemented by states and territories. The first point of contact is the state or territorial regulatory agency that has jurisdiction where the USTs are physically located. Find state contacts.
- Laws and Regulations
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Compliance
- UST Compliance Help
- UST Compliance Assistance Package: A collection of publications with compliance information.
- UST Compliance Monitoring: Information about inspections, evaluations and investigations.
- UST Technical Compendium: Interpretations and guidance letters for complying with UST requirements.
- Enforcement
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Policy and Guidance
- Policy and Guidance Pertaining to USTs: For assisting EPA regional UST programs in negotiating and entering into assistance agreements with states and territories.
- UST-Related Policy Directives