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Superfund 101
Hosted by U.S. EPA
Office of Superfund and Emergency Management

Superfund 101 consists of two introductory‐level courses: Fundamentals of Superfund and the Enforcement Process Overview. 

Fundamentals of Superfund provides an overview of the purpose, legal framework, and implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The course (1) explores the origin, accomplishments, and future directions of the Superfund program; (2) outlines the roles of the On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) and Remedial Project Managers (RPMs) as defined by laws, regulations, policy, and guidance, including a comparison of authorities and liabilities; and (3) covers the integral components of the removal, remedial, and enforcement programs, emphasizing the major responsibilities of OSCs and RPMs in managing Superfund responses, site cleanups, and enforcement activities.

Course Objectives:

  • Understand the evolution of the Superfund program. 
  • Understand the statutory and regulatory basis for the authorities of OSCs and RPMs. 
  • Learn about the three types of response activities defined under CERCLA. 

Enforcement Process Overview provides an introduction to EPA’s Superfund enforcement process. The course covers response actions and enforcement authorities under Superfund, illustrating the relationship between major enforcement actions and remedial and removal actions. It defines Superfund enforcement goals and principles; identifies objectives of Superfund enforcement reforms; and highlights current EPA enforcement priorities. Participants explore the four classes of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs), their defenses and exemptions to liabilities, and major discretionary enforcement policies. The course also examines EPA’s cost recovery strategy, the roles of administrative and judicial law in the enforcement process and introduces various enforcement tools such as alternative dispute resolution used in the settlement process.

Course Objectives:

  • Learn about the goals, priorities, and actions of the Superfund enforcement program. 
  • Understand EPA’s fundamental enforcement principles and policies, the four types of PRPs, common defenses against liability, and other enforcement policies. 
  • Gain insight into the enforcement process and the roles of states, tribes, federal agencies and communities in this process. 
  • Develop the ability to use available tools to encourage settlements. 

Superfund 101 is recommended for EPA OSCs and RPMs who are new to the Superfund program. Additionally, the course may able be valuable to EPA site attorneys, other Superfund staff, and personnel from other federal agencies, states and tribes involved in supporting Superfund sites.  
 

Important Notice: Due to the content presented during a CEC course and the restrictions in place for non-citizens to enter federal buildings, international attendees are not permitted to attend CEC courses.

For general information contact CEC Registrar via e-mail at cec-registrar@emsus.com

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