Definitions

The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA) is a federal statute that makes organizations accountable and financially responsible for their use of chemicals, toxins or hazardous waste and their potential harm to the environment and public health.  CERCLA is often called the Superfund Act, because it was passed to create funds for the clean-up of hazardous sites.

A Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) quantifies public losses suffered when natural resources (e.g. water, air, land, plants, animals, habitats) are injured from an oil spill or the release of hazardous substances into the environment.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) was passed shortly after the Exxon Valdez oil spill to help the government prevent and respond to future catastrophic spills.  The act expanded federal oversight for spills, established funds/resources for clean-up and restoration, and set strict requirements for contingency planning and mitigation efforts along with hefty financial penalties for organizations failing to comply.