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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Preliminary assessments (PAs) under CERCLA. CERCLA Information Brief

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10133454· OSTI ID:10133454
Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and liability Act (CERCLA) required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish criteria for determining priorities among releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of taking remedial action. EPA promulgated the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) for this purpose. In response to requirements of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) the MRS has since been revised. The HRS is Appendix A to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). A preliminary assessment (PA) is the first step in the process of evaluating a site potentially contaminated with hazardous substances or pollutants pursuant to CERCLA, the NCP, and the HRS. The purpose of the PA is to differentiate sites that pose no potential threat to human heath and the environment from sites that warrant further investigation under CERCLA.
Research Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health, Washington, DC (United States). RCRA/CERCLA Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI ID:
10133454
Report Number(s):
DOE/EH--231-016/0593; ON: DE94008201; NC: NONE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English