Which agency enforces CERCLA regulations?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the agency responsible for enforcing the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund law. This federal legislation was enacted to address environmental disasters and to facilitate the cleanup of contaminated sites.

The EPA's role involves overseeing the cleanup process, managing the National Priorities List (NPL) which identifies sites eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the Superfund program, and ensuring that the procedures established by CERCLA are properly followed by responsible parties or through federal and state interventions.

Other agencies, such as state environmental agencies and health departments, may also be involved in environmental protection and remediation efforts; however, the EPA has the statutory authority under federal law to enforce CERCLA, making it the primary agency responsible for these regulations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is not involved in environmental regulations, focusing instead on criminal investigations and national security.