Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 27 results

• What is a CERCLA § 107(r) windfall lien?

  Under section 107(r) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly known as Superfund), a windfall lien is a statutory lien on a property for the increase in the fair market value of that property attributable to the EPA's cleanup efforts. It is not a lien for all…

  • Last published: September 30, 2025

• Who can be a potentially responsible party at a hazardous waste site?

  There are four classes of Superfund liable parties: Current owners and operators of a facility, Past owners and operators of a facility at the time hazardous substances were disposed, Parties that arranged for the disposal or transport of the hazardous substances, and Transporters of hazardous substances that selected the site…

  • Last published: September 30, 2025

• Who is responsible for enforcement of cleaning up leaks from underground storage tanks?

  The underground storage tank program is primarily implemented by states and territories. The first point of contact is the state or territorial regulatory agency with jurisdiction where the USTs are physically located. See state and territorial UST program offices for a list of contacts. The EPA UST program provides answers…

  • Last published: September 30, 2025

• How does the EPA enforce Superfund cleanups?

  The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly referred to as Superfund) provides the EPA with enforcement authorities to clean up sites by finding the companies or people responsible for contamination at a site, and negotiating with them to do the clean up themselves, or to pay for the…

  • Last published: September 30, 2025

• What is the role of the EPA's cleanup enforcement program?

  The EPA's cleanup enforcement program protects human health and the environment by getting those responsible for contamination to either clean up or reimburse the EPA for its cleanup. The EPA uses several cleanup authorities independently and in combination to address specific cleanup situations. For more information on various cleanup enforcement…

  • Last published: September 30, 2025

• What is cost recovery?

  Cost recovery is the action that the federal government, states, and private parties may take to recover what they spent on cleanup activities at a site. If the EPA does the cleanup work using Superfund money, it will try to recover those costs from responsible parties. More information is available…

  • Last published: September 30, 2025

• Is prior law enforcement experience a prerequisite?

  No, prior law enforcement experience is not a prerequisite for employment. EPA-CID seeks candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and career fields to complement each other on working complex cases. EPA-CID has a very competitive hiring posture and is continuously seeking applicants who possess a wide variety of experience.

  • Last published: October 2, 2025

• Many refiners currently make a jet fuel meeting <500 ppm requirements. If refiners make a jet fuel meeting 15 ppm requirements, there may be compatibility (safety or performance) issues for jet engine manufacturers. Have these manufacturers been consulted in this rulemaking process? If so, what is their position on use of 15 ppm jet fuel?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The highway and nonroad diesel programs do not require that refiners produce 15 ppm sulfur jet fuel and do not set sulfur limits for jet fuel that is not designated as motor vehicle diesel fuel. This would be…

  • Last published: May 21, 2025

• Will refiners produce No. 1 diesel fuel at 15 ppm sulfur? What other cold weather-gelling strategies are available to the end-user?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes, some refiners will produce No. 1 diesel fuel. There are also various other cold-flow improver additives currently on the market as well. Question and Answer was originally posted at Questions and Answers on the Clean Diesel Fuel…

  • Last published: May 28, 2025

• A tank truck common carrier picks up a load of ULSD at a Shell terminal and delivers it to a Flying J truck stop. The carrier only provides a transportation service, does that carrier have any registration or reporting duties?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No, the carrier does not have registration or reporting duties as long as taxes were assessed (in the case of highway fuel) or dye was added (in the case of NRLM) at the terminal. There are recordkeeping and…

  • Last published: July 23, 2025

• Does having a disability disqualify me from being a Special Agent?

  Special Agents are subject to medical standards. As defined by the Office of Personnel Management, Special Agent duties require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee…

  • Last published: October 2, 2025

• How long does the Special Agent application process take?

  The hiring process can take six to nine months. However, sometimes the process can extend beyond nine months.

  • Last published: October 2, 2025

• Can the EPA choose not to pursue certain potentially responsible parties?

  Yes, in an enforcement action, the EPA may choose not to pursue certain potentially responsible parties. For example, the EPA's de minimis and de micromis policies allow the agency some flexibility in negotiating settlements. Such "enforcement discretion" allows the EPA to choose to pursue those PRPs the agency has reason…

  • Last published: October 2, 2025

• If a terminal imports off-spec kerosene (higher than 15 ppm), terminal operators are planning to blend the kerosene with diesel fuel so that the ultimate diesel fuel leaving the terminal gate and entering into commerce meets the 15 ppm standard. Would EPA please confirm that this process is permissible for an importer?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The regulations at § 80.525(d) state that kerosene that a kerosene blender adds, or intends to add, to motor vehicle diesel fuel subject to the 15 ppm sulfur standard must meet the 15 ppm sulfur standard. Section 80.521(b)…

  • Last published: May 20, 2025

• Section 80.600(a)(10) says, Any refiner or importer shall maintain copies of all product transfer documents required under §80.590. If all information required in paragraph (a)(6) of this section is on the product transfer document for a batch, then the provisions of this paragraph (a)(10) shall satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a)(6) of this section for that batch.” Does that mean that if a refiner or importer has a PTD containing the information no other record is required? That seems unneeded. Does that paragraph mean something else?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Section 80.600(a)(10) first requires that product transfer documents under § 80.590 be maintained by refiners and importers. It then states that if such product transfer documents contain all the information required under paragraph (a)(6) of § 80.600 for…

  • Last published: June 3, 2025