The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly referred to as Superfund, was enacted on December 11, 1980. CERCLA provides EPA's Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR) the authority to respond to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants that may endanger human health or the environment. EPA follows the procedures outlined in the National Contingency Plan (NCP) to respond to releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. CERCLA also requires that EPA maintain the National Priorities List (NPL), a list of sites across the United States that require remedial action due to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances. Finally, CERCLA requires reporting of releases of hazardous substances, establishes the liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous substances, and establishes a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible party can be identified.
The Hotline also answers questions on the related Brownfields program, which seeks methods to bring abandoned, idled, or underused industrial or commercial property back into use.
CERCLA/Superfund links :
Key dates in the Superfund program are included for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), Hazard Ranking System (HRS), National Priorities List (NPL), and Construction Completion List (CCL).
 | enacted December 11, 1980 — trust fund of $1.6 billion is authorized over 5 years |
| amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) enacted October 17, 1986 — trust fund of $8.5 billion is authorized over 5 years |
| extended to September 30, 1994 — additional $5.1 billion is authorized |
| revised July 16, 1982 (47 FR 31180) to incorporate CERCLA requirements |
| amended by SARA October 17, 1986 |
| revised March 8, 1990 (55 FR 8666) in response to CERCLA Section 105 |
| promulgated July 16, 1982 (47 FR 31180) as Appendix A of the NCP |
| revised December 14, 1990 (55 FR 51532) in response to CERCLA Section 105(c) added by SARA |
| effective date March 14, 1991 |
| promulgated September 8, 1983 (48 FR 40658) as Appendix B of the NCP |
| last sites proposed under original HRS promulgated February 11, 1991 (56 FR 5598) |
| first sites proposed under the revised HRS July 29, 1991 (56 FR 35840) |
| first sites added to the NPL under the revised HRS October 14, 1992 (57 FR 47181) |
| category activated February 11, 1991 (56 FR 5634) |
| list activated March 2, 1993 (58 FR 12142) |