The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)

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 Superfund

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).

CERCLA

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

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

NCP

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan implements Superfund

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

HRS

Hazard Ranking System

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

NPL

National Priorities List

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)

CCL

Construction Completion List

category activated February 11, 1991 (56 FR 5634)

list activated March 2, 1993 (58 FR 12142)

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