What is Superfund?
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, was enacted by Congress on December 11, 1980. Among other things, this law provides broad federal authority to address releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. A major component of Superfund is a process for cleaning up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The law provides for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites and establishes a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible party can be identified. Superfund authorizes two kinds of response actions: Short-term removals, where actions may be taken to address releases or threatened releases requiring prompt response. The Time-Critical Removal Action (TCRA) at the former Plainwell Impoundment is this type of response. Read more on the TCRA. Long-term remedial response actions, that significantly an