Which program established federal authority for emergency response and cleanup of hazardous substances?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is the program that established federal authority for emergency response and cleanup of hazardous substances. Enacted in 1980, CERCLA was designed specifically to address the growing concerns about hazardous waste sites across the United States, particularly those that pose significant risks to human health and the environment.

Under CERCLA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized to respond to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, ensuring that proper cleanup actions are taken. This includes the formulation of the National Priorities List (NPL), which identifies hazardous waste sites that require further investigation and cleanup.

The act also provides the federal government with the authority to impose liability on responsible parties for the cleanup costs, empowering the EPA to facilitate the recovery of funds used for cleanup through legal action against those who are accountable for the contamination.

In contrast, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) focuses on the management and disposal of hazardous waste, the Clean Water Act aims to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions. While all these laws contribute to environmental protection, CERCLA is uniquely focused on