Which statement about CERCLA is true?

Which statement about CERCLA is true?

• A. Provides for cleanup and remediation of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites and response to accidents, spills and other emergency releases of hazardous substances, including EPA enforcement authority to ensure cleanup costs are paid.
• B. Regulates only non-hazardous waste
• C. Only covers air emissions from facilities
• D. Provides tax credits for exporting hazardous waste

Answer: (A)

CERCLA focuses on cleaning up hazardous waste contamination and responding to releases, backed by EPA enforcement to ensure cleanup costs are covered. It created the Superfund, gives EPA authority to identify potentially responsible parties, compel cleanup, and fund emergency response and long-term remediation when needed. This framework is precisely about addressing uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites and incidents, not about general waste regulation. The other statements miss CERCLA’s scope: it does not regulate only non-hazardous waste, it does not limit itself to air emissions, and it does not provide tax credits for exporting hazardous waste.

CERCLA focuses on cleaning up hazardous waste contamination and responding to releases, backed by EPA enforcement to ensure cleanup costs are covered. It created the Superfund, gives EPA authority to identify potentially responsible parties, compel cleanup, and fund emergency response and long-term remediation when needed. This framework is precisely about addressing uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites and incidents, not about general waste regulation.

The other statements miss CERCLA’s scope: it does not regulate only non-hazardous waste, it does not limit itself to air emissions, and it does not provide tax credits for exporting hazardous waste.