What is Superfund?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) - commonly known as Superfund - was passed by congress as a federal law in December of 1980. The law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries to:

• Identify and respond to sites from which releases of hazardous substances into the environment have occurred or could potentially occur;
• Ensure they are cleaned up by responsible parties or through government funding;and
• Evaluate damages to natural resources.

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) was signed into law in October of 1986. SARA was a 5-year extension of CERCLA that established remediation standards and increased funding to implement the program. A separate provision reauthorized the program without change through October 1994 when authorization expired. The program continues to function through special appropriated funding while reauthorization of the law is negotiated by congress.

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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Land Recycling and Cleanup Program
717-783-7816