Comprehensive
Environmental
Response
Compensation &
Liability
Act
The Superfund was enacted by congress on December 11, 1980.
Created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.
Also seeks help from those who released the hazardous substances.
Over five years, $1.6 billion was collected and the tax went to a trust fund for cleaning up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
It was amended in 1986 to ensure complete coverage over the country.
Removal Actions:
These are short-term actions authorized by CERCLA. These may be taken to address releases or threatened releases that require a prompt response.
Remedial Actions:
These are long-term actions authorized by CERCLA; these permanently and significantly reduce the risk of release of hazardous substances. These actions may only be taken at places on the National Priorities List. To be included on the NPL, a proposed site is first subject to a Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection and then to a Remedial investigation/Feasibility Study.
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| Cleanup site |
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| Cleanup site |
CERCLA not only ensures that these invaluable removal actions are taken, but also enforces against potentially responsible parties. It promotes strong accountability, community involvement and long-term protectiveness. One thing that cannot be ensured is perfection, that is up to us and how willing we are to clean up our messes.
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