What is the primary purpose of the Superfund Law?

The primary purpose of the Superfund Law, formally known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), is to fund the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. This legislation was enacted to address the growing concerns over hazardous waste and its impact on human health and the environment. The law allows the federal government to respond to environmental emergencies and ensure that responsible parties take financial responsibility for contamination caused by their activities.

By establishing a trust fund, the Superfund Law provides necessary financial resources to clean up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites when no responsible party can be identified or when the responsible party fails to take appropriate action. This mechanism is critical in protecting public health and restoring damaged ecosystems, ensuring that communities affected by environmental hazards receive the assistance needed to mitigate risks and remediate contaminated areas.

The other options do not align with the primary intentions of the Superfund Law, as it is specifically focused on the cleanup and management of hazardous waste sites rather than regulating air quality, enforcing construction codes, or monitoring groundwater supplies.