CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act)

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, is a U.S. law enacted in 1980 to address hazardous waste sites and protect public health and the environment. It grants the federal government the authority to investigate and clean up contaminated land and water. CERCLA also establishes a trust fund to finance cleanups when responsible parties cannot be identified or are unable to pay. The law aims to hold polluters accountable for their actions, ensuring they bear the costs of cleaning up the messes they create.