CERCLA (Superfund)
The federal law authorizing EPA to clean up contaminated sites, now applicable to PFOA and PFOS.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, gives EPA authority to compel cleanup of hazardous substance releases. In 2024, EPA designated PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances, enabling the agency to require responsible parties (manufacturers, facility operators) to pay for investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites.