In 1980, the U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as Superfund) to clean up serious hazardous waste sites that are placed on the National Priorities List. The National Priorities List (NPL) is the list of sites of national priority among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in determining which sites warrant further investigation. 

The EPA administers the Superfund program in Virginia, and DEQ works closely with EPA to ensure state regulations are considered, Virginia's environment is protected, and the health of the Commonwealth's citizens is promoted. A 2017 Superfund Memorandum of Agreement between EPA and DEQ sets out this working relationship. Part of the working relationship included in the MOA is the selection of Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) which are required by CERCLA § 121(b), CERCLA § 121(d), and 40 CFR § 300.400(g).  For a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding ARARs and a list of potential Virginia state ARARs, please see the link in the resources box.

Cleaning up Superfund sites is a complex, multi-phase process. EPA provides additional information regarding the Superfund cleanup process. Information regarding federally-owned Superfund sites is available on the Federal Facilities webpage. EPA may delete a final NPL site (i.e. remove it from the NPL) if it determines that no further response is required to protect human health or the environment.