What is the purpose of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, is a crucial piece of environmental legislation enacted in 1980 aimed primarily at addressing the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Its main purpose is to ensure that polluted sites are identified, assessed, and cleaned up to protect public health and the environment from potential harm caused by hazardous waste.

The act provides a framework for the federal government to respond quickly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may cause harm to human health or the environment. CERCLA establishes a trust fund, known as the Superfund, which is used to finance cleanup operations when responsible parties are either not identified or unable to carry out the cleanup themselves.

Through these mechanisms, CERCLA addresses health and environmental risks associated with hazardous substances, ensuring that contaminated sites are remediated appropriately, thereby protecting communities and wildlife from exposure to dangerous contaminants. This focus on cleaning up hazardous waste sites is central to the act’s mission and distinguishes it from regulations specifically related to pesticide use, recycling initiatives, or community health programs.