The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was enacted by Congress on December 11, 1980. This law was written to provide federal authority to respond to any release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the environment. CERCLA established prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites and held persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites liable for restoration activities. CERCLA also authorized the creation of a Trust Fund, commonly referred to as the Superfund, which can be used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up emergency and long-term hazardous substance releases when no responsible party can be identified.

        CERCLA was responsible for the revision of the National Contingency Plan (NCP). The NCP is the policy and guidelines for the restoration of sites where the release or potential release of hazardous substances in to the environment has occurred. CERCLA was later amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) in 1986. With SARA, state involvement and citizen participation increased, the focus on human health problems resulting from hazardous waste increased, and the size of the Superfund increased to $8.5 billion.

        For more information on CERCLA, please visit: www.epa.gov.htm.