• SARA helped strengthen and expand the Superfund cleanup program and increased the CERCLA Trust Fund.

On October 17, 1986, Congress passed amendments to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), called the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). This law made several important changes and additions to the Superfund Program that strengthened and expanded the cleanup program.

SARA increased the size of the CERCLA Trust Fund to $8.5 billion and refined its financing. SARA also stresses developing and using permanent remedies. In addition, SARA provided new enforcement authorities and settlement tools, required changes in the system used to determine which sites should be addressed, and increased state involvement in the Superfund process.

SARA included a free-standing statute, Title III, also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). This statute increased community awareness and access to information regarding the presence of extremely hazardous chemicals in their community. With this information, communities can develop a local emergency response plan to help mitigate the effects of a chemical incident.