National Priorities List

The National Priorities List, also known as the NPL and the Superfund List, is a federally managed list of severely polluted, hazardous waste sites targeted for long-term cleanup action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Superfund Program. [Page 367]Hazardous waste sites that require long-term or remedial cleanup action are placed on the NPL after a review of the site by the EPA, following its Hazard Ranking System and after public comment. These sites then undergo extensive hazardous waste cleanup efforts, either by the EPA or under its direction, with funding coming from responsible parties (the companies or groups who originally polluted the area) and from federal and state funds.