What is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, is a federal law in the United States that was passed in 1980. Its purpose is to help clean up hazardous waste sites and prevent and respond to releases of pollutants or hazardous substances into the environment. The law requires potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to pay for environmental cleanups and provides liability protection for the parties that perform them. CERCLA is enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice (DOJ). In North Dakota, CERCLA plays a key role in the state’s environmental protection efforts. The EPA’s Superfund program works with local, state, and federal partners to identify, investigate, and clean up hazardous waste sites. The law is also used to protect public health, both directly through cleanup of hazardous waste sites, and indirectly by preventing new releases of hazardous substances. CERCLA has been used to clean up several hazardous waste sites in North Dakota, including an abandoned fertilizer processing facility in Fargo and an abandoned military base in Grand Forks. In addition, the state has received federal funding to support cleanup activities at sites identified as potentially contaminated, and to conduct health studies and assessments. Overall, CERCLA is an important law in North Dakota that helps protect and clean up the environment. It ensures that polluters are held accountable for damages they have caused, while also providing protection for parties engaged in cleanup activities.

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What is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)?

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