What is the National Priorities List (NPL) under CERCLA used for?

• A. A list compiled by the EPA of CERCLA properties to clean up organized by Hazard Ranking System.
• B. A national registry of all hazardous waste generators.
• C. A set of water quality criteria for drinking water.
• D. A schedule of permitted discharges under the Clean Water Act.

Answer: (A)

The National Priorities List identifies the sites that require long-term cleanup under CERCLA. The EPA uses the Hazard Ranking System to score potential sites for their risk to human health and the environment, and the highest-scoring sites are placed on the NPL. This list guides which locations receive Superfund-led investigations and remedial actions and helps allocate federal cleanup funding. It’s not a registry of all hazardous waste generators, nor is it a set of drinking water criteria or a permit schedule under the Clean Water Act.