In order to know what's wrong with Superfund and how it might be fixed, we must first understand how the program works. If EPA officials decide an emergency exists, a Removal Action may be taken. Because of their emergency nature, Removal Actions are not subject to most of the rules that govern other Superfund activities. A Removal Action can be decided upon and taken at any time during the formal Superfund process. As we will see, sites that don't make it onto the NPL may still present serious hazards to humans and the environment.
Some states maintain their own site lists and have their own cleanup programs.
The public gets an opportunity to comment on the RIFS and on the EPA's preferred cleanup alternative. The ROD also contains EPA responses to public comments. A ROD may deal with only part of a site and several RODs may be needed at a complex site. In a ROD, EPA sets cleanup goals and selects particular technology or technologies for cleanup. The ROD is like a contract in which EPA agrees to take certain actions to make the site safe.