The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) is an amendment to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). SARA was enacted to address the shortcomings of CERCLA and to strengthen the federal government’s ability to respond to hazardous waste contamination. SARA has five main titles, each of which addresses a different aspect of hazardous waste management. Title I of SARA establishes the Superfund program, which provides funding for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Title II of SARA expands the list of hazardous substances that are regulated under CERCLA and establishes a schedule for the cleanup of these sites. Title III of SARA establishes the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), which requires businesses to report the presence of hazardous chemicals and to develop emergency plans. Title IV of SARA establishes the Radon Gas and Indoor Air Quality Research Act, which provides funding for research on indoor air quality and radon gas. Title V of SARA establishes the Pollution Prevention Act, which encourages businesses to reduce the production of hazardous waste.
SARA and Its Environmental Act Amendments
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) is a comprehensive environmental law that was enacted in 1986 to amend various existing environmental statutes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. SARA’s primary goal was to strengthen CERCLA by expanding the cleanup and enforcement authorities of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and providing additional funding for Superfund cleanup activities.
Key Provisions of SARA
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Expanded Cleanup Authorities: SARA expanded the EPA’s authority to clean up contaminated sites by:
- Lowering the threshold for triggering a cleanup from imminent and substantial endangerment to actual or potential endangerment
- Allowing the EPA to clean up sites where the polluter is unknown or insolvent
- Granting the EPA authority to oversee cleanup actions conducted by responsible parties
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New Funding for Superfund: SARA provided approximately \$8.5 billion in new funding over five years to support Superfund cleanup activities. This funding was used to:
- Clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites
- Provide compensation to victims of hazardous waste exposure
- Conduct research and development on hazardous waste cleanup technologies
Amendments to CERCLA
SARA made significant amendments to CERCLA, including:
- Expanded Liability: SARA expanded the liability of parties responsible for hazardous waste contamination to include:
- Current and former owners and operators of contaminated sites
- Generators and transporters of hazardous waste
- Persons who knowingly dispose of hazardous waste
- New Enforcement Tools: SARA provided the EPA with new enforcement tools to address hazardous waste contamination, including:
- Authority to issue administrative orders requiring cleanup actions
- Authority to impose civil penalties for violations of CERCLA
- Authority to seek criminal prosecution for willful violations of CERCLA
Question 1:
What is the environmental act that SARA is an amendment to?
Answer:
SARA (the Species at Risk Act) is an amendment to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
Question 2:
When was SARA introduced as an amendment?
Answer:
SARA was introduced as an amendment to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 in May 2003.
Question 3:
What is the purpose of SARA as an amendment?
Answer:
SARA’s purpose as an amendment to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 is to provide legal protection for wildlife species at risk and their critical habitats in Canada.
Alright folks, that’s all I got for you on the riveting topic of SARA. I know, I know, it’s not exactly the most exciting thing in the world, but hey, it’s important stuff nonetheless. Remember, protecting our environment is like protecting ourselves. So, let’s all do our part, even if it’s just a little bit. Thanks for sticking with me through this environmental adventure, and be sure to check back in later for more updates and green gossip. Until next time, keep it clean and green!