Superfund: Getting the Cleanup Done

Superfund Enforcement Topics How Sites are Discovered Finding Those Responsible Getting the Cleanup Done   Negotiations   Orders   Settlements   Penalties   Compliance Recovering EPA's Costs Getting Involved (OERR/Regions) Superfund Cleanup Policy & Guidance

Superfund cleanup is paid for either by the parties responsible for contamination or by the Superfund Trust Fund. Under the Superfund law, EPA is able to make those companies and individuals responsible for contamination at a Superfund site perform, and pay for, the cleanup work at the site. EPA negotiates with the responsible parties to get them to pay for the plans and work that have to be done to clean up the site. If an agreement cannot be reached, EPA can issue orders to responsible parties to make them clean up the site under EPA supervision. Alternatively, EPA may use the Superfund Trust Fund to pay for cleanup costs, then attempt to get the money back by taking legal action.