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

The primary aim of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, is indeed centered on cleaning up sites that have been contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants. This law was enacted to address the growing concern over the dangers posed by improperly managed hazardous waste sites.

Under CERCLA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is empowered to identify and prioritize these contaminated sites for cleanup actions. The act not only facilitates the remediation of existing hazards but also holds responsible parties liable for the costs associated with cleanup, thereby ensuring that those who have contributed to contamination are accountable for rectifying the situation.

This focus on remediation and liability underscores the act’s overarching purpose of protecting public health and the environment from hazardous waste exposure, making it critical in the landscape of environmental regulation. The other options refer to various environmental regulations but do not align with the specific focus of CERCLA on the cleanup and management of contaminated sites.