Brownfield sites are areas of land previously used for industrial purposes or certain commercial uses that may be contaminated by hazardous waste or pollution. Cleaning and redeveloping these sites is essential for community health and environmental sustainability.
CERCLA, also known as Superfund, is a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants. This act provides a federal 'Superfund' to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites and accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is a federal law aimed at the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants. Also known as Superfund, it imposes strict joint and several liability on potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for site remediation.
Hazardous substances refer to a wide array of contaminants that are regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). These substances include hazardous waste and chemical contaminants but exclude petroleum products due to a specific exemption.
Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) refer to individuals or entities that are legally liable for contamination and remediation of hazardous waste sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES (PRP) are individuals or entities potentially liable for environmental contamination under Superfund laws such as CERCLA and SARA. These parties can include current or former owners, operators, transporters, and disposers of hazardous waste at a contaminated site.
SUPERFUND is the commonly used name for CERCLA, the federal environmental cleanup law. It mandates the cleanup of contaminated sites and holds responsible parties accountable for the costs.
