CERCLA

CERCLA, or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, is a U.S. law enacted in 1980 to address hazardous waste sites. It provides a system for identifying, cleaning up, and managing contaminated areas to protect public health and the environment. CERCLA holds responsible parties—such as property owners, waste generators, or companies liable for contamination—accountable for cleanup costs. The law also established a trust fund, known as Superfund, financed by taxes and other sources, to assist with emergency responses and contaminated site remediation when responsible parties are unknown or unable to pay.