gives the EPA authority to regulate the transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes, prohibits open dumping of wastes, and regulates underground storage tanks, among others.
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (1980). CERCLA authorized the EPA to respond to releases of hazardous wastes, established regulations to control inactive hazardous waste sites, established liability for releases of hazardous wastes from inactive sites, provided an inventory of inactive hazardous waste sites, and established appropriate action to protect the public from possible dangers at such sites.
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (1986). SARA revised and extended CERCLA and provided for emergency planning and preparedness community right-to-know reporting, and toxic chemical release reporting. SARA also established a special
program for restoration of contaminated lands, some what similar to the Superfund under CERCLA.
Pollution Prevention Act (1990). The basic objective of this act is to establish a national policy for preventing or reducing pollution at the source wherever feasible, and it directs the federal EPA to undertake certain steps in that regard.