What does CERCLA primarily address?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, primarily addresses abandoned hazardous waste sites. This federal law was enacted in 1980 to manage the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances. It provides the federal government with the authority to respond to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.

Under CERCLA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with identifying and investigating contaminated sites, assessing the risks posed by these sites, and overseeing remediation activities to restore them to safe conditions. The act also establishes a trust fund to finance the cleanup of sites where responsible parties cannot be identified or held liable. Therefore, the focus of CERCLA is on managing and facilitating the cleanup of sites that pose a risk due to abandoned hazardous waste, making this choice the most accurate reflection of the law's primary purpose.