This law amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

SARA reflected EPA's experience in administering the complex Superfund program during its first six years and made several important changes and additions to the program.

SARA:

• Stressed the importance of permanent remedies and innovative treatment technologies in cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

• Required Superfund actions to consider the standards and requirements found in other State and Federal environmental laws and regulations.

• Provided new enforcement authorities and settlement tools.

• Increased State involvement in every phase of the Superfund program.

• Increased the focus on human health problems posed by hazardous waste sites.

• Encouraged greater citizen participation in making decisions on how sites should be cleaned up.

• Increased the size of the trust fund to $8.5 billion.