The Superfund is a U.S. federal government program designed to fund the cleanup of toxic wastes. Established in 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) allows the EPA to clean up contaminated sites. It also forces the parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work.
When there is no viable responsible party, Superfund gives EPA the funds and authority to clean up contaminated sites. These sites often include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites. For a searchable list of Superfund sites, visit the EPA’s website.