Which law made OSHA responsible for setting standards to protect workers involved in cleaning up Superfund sites?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is the law that designated OSHA with the responsibility of establishing safety and health standards for workers involved in cleaning up Superfund sites. This legislation was enacted in 1980 primarily to address the issues associated with hazardous waste sites and to ensure the safe and effective cleanup of such areas.

One significant aspect of CERCLA is its establishment of a framework for the identification, assessment, and remediation of hazardous waste sites, along with securing funding for cleanup efforts. The act emphasizes the protection of workers who are engaged in these potentially hazardous environments, thus leading to OSHA’s role in developing specific standards and training requirements to safeguard their health and safety during cleanup operations.

In contrast, while the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) focuses on the management and disposal of hazardous waste, and the Clean Water Act (CWA) addresses water pollution control, these laws do not specifically assign OSHA the responsibility of setting health and safety standards for workers at Superfund sites.