What is the goal of the Superfund program?

The goal of the Superfund program is to clean up the nation's uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. This program, established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in 1980, focuses on identifying, investigating, and remediating sites contaminated with hazardous substances. The need for such a program arose from the significant public health and environmental risks associated with improperly managed hazardous waste sites, which could jeopardize local ecosystems and communities. By prioritizing the cleanup of these sites, the Superfund program aims to protect human health and the environment.

The other options do not align with the primary objectives of the Superfund program. Incentivizing waste production does not fit the program’s focus on managing and mitigating existing hazards. Recycling hazardous waste materials is a different process that does not address the specific need for cleanup and remediation of contaminated areas. Increasing compliance with minor hazardous waste regulations does not capture the scope and urgency of the Superfund program, which concentrates on larger, more serious hazardous waste sites that pose significant risks.