What type of waste does the Comprehensive Environmental Response Act primarily focus on?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly referred to as the Superfund Act, primarily focuses on hazardous waste. This federal law was enacted to address the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and to ensure that parties responsible for the contamination are held accountable for the cleanup costs.

Hazardous waste includes substances that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment due to their toxic, corrosive, or otherwise harmful properties. CERCLA establishes a framework for the assessment and remediation of these hazardous sites, emphasizing the need for safe management and cleanup of such wastes to protect public health and the environment.

In contrast, household waste and industrial waste do not fall specifically under the focus of CERCLA, although they may contain hazardous components in some cases. The act is not designed to address all types of waste broadly, but rather zeroes in on hazardous materials that require urgent action to mitigate their dangers. Thus, the emphasis on hazardous waste aligns perfectly with the primary intent of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Act.