EPA Cleanup Programs

With mandates from Congress, the EPA established four main programs to clean up contaminated land. The cleanup programs are as follows:

Superfund Program - Established in 1980, this program focuses on bankrupt or abandoned sites, or sites in which many parties are responsible for the releases of hazardous substances.

RCRA Corrective Action - Established in 1984, this program focuses on sites with identified owners or operators of TSDFs who, since 1980, have released hazardous substances into the environment; or who have inappropriately treated, stored, or disposed of hazardous waste.

Underground Storage Tanks - Also established in 1984, this program focuses on contamination caused by leaking underground storage tanks.

Brownfields - Established in 1998, this program provides assistance to contaminated sites managed by Superfund, RCRA, or other programs, with grants to restore the sites to usable property.

To learn more about RCRA safety standards visit our RCRA Refresher Online Training web page.