Which agency is responsible for enforcing CERCLA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for enforcing the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This federal law was enacted in 1980 in response to the growing concern over hazardous waste sites and environmental contamination. The EPA's role includes managing the cleanup of contaminated sites, enforcing liability provisions, and overseeing the Superfund program, which funds the cleanup efforts at these sites when responsible parties are unable to be found or are incapable of performing the cleanup themselves.

The focus of CERCLA is on protecting public health and the environment from the dangers posed by waste sites, which makes the EPA the appropriate agency to handle these responsibilities. This involves not only enforcement actions but also conducting investigations and ensuring that federal and state laws regarding hazardous waste disposal are followed.

In contrast, other agencies listed in the options have distinct mandates that do not align with the enforcement of environmental laws like CERCLA. For example, the US Attorney's General Office primarily handles legal issues at the state level and does not specifically focus on environmental enforcement. The Federal Fair Housing Agency and the Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD) deal with housing policies and regulations rather than environmental protection, making the EPA's focus on hazardous waste and environmental cleanup essential to the enforcement of CERCLA.