Chapter 22: Problem 8

What law was passed to cope with the problem of abandoned hazardous-waste sites? What are the main features of the legislation?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, was enacted to deal with abandoned hazardous-waste sites. The legislation imposes 'polluter pays' principle, allows the EPA to cleanup sites using the Superfund, and authorizes recovery of natural resource damages.

Step by step solution

Identify the Legislation

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, is the key piece of legislation enacted to deal with abandoned hazardous waste sites.

Detail the main features of the Legislation

The main features of the CERCLA include imposing a 'polluter pays' principle, where the responsible parties for the pollution are held financially accountable for the cleaning up of any released hazardous substances. In case the responsible party cannot be found, the EPA is allowed to cleanup the site using the 'Superfund', a trust fund specifically created for this purpose. An additional important aspect is that the CERCLA authorizes federal natural resource agencies, states and Native American tribes to recover natural resource damages caused by releases of hazardous substances.

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What law was passed to cope with the problem of abandoned hazardous-waste sites? What are the main features of the legislation?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Identify the Legislation

Detail the main features of the Legislation

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