Cleanup Process

The Superfund cleanup process begins with site discovery or notification to EPA of possible releases of hazardous substances. Sites are discovered by various parties, including citizens, State agencies, and EPA Regional offices. Once discovered, sites are entered into the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS), EPA's computerized inventory of potential hazardous substance release sites (view CERCLIS Hazardous Waste Sites). EPA then evaluates the potential for a release of hazardous substances from the site through these steps in the Superfund cleanup process:

• Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) — investigations of site conditions
  
  
• HRS Scoring — screening mechanism used to place sites on the National Priorities List (Introduction to the HRS)
  
  
• NPL Site Listing Process — list of the most serious sites identified for possible long-term cleanup
  
  
• Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) — determines the nature and extent of contamination
  
  
• Records of Decision (ROD) — explains which cleanup alternatives will be used at NPL sites
  
  
• Remedial Design/Remedial Action (RD/RA) — preparation and implementation of plans and specifications for applying site remedies
  
  
• Construction Completion — identifies completion of cleanup activities
  
  
• Post Construction Completion — ensures that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. Included here are Long-Term Response Actions (LTRA), Operation and Maintenance, Institutional Controls, Five-Year Reviews, Remedy Optimization, and NPL Deletion
  
  

EPA uses these steps to determine and implement the appropriate response to threats posed by releases of hazardous substances. Releases that require immediate or short-term response actions are addressed under the Emergency Response program of Superfund.