Legal Definitions - NPL

NPL

NPL stands for National Priorities List. It is a list of the most contaminated sites in the United States that require cleanup under the Superfund program.

One example of a site on the NPL is the Love Canal in New York. In the 1970s, it was discovered that the area had been used as a dumping ground for toxic waste, which led to health problems for residents. Another example is the Hanford Site in Washington, which was used to produce nuclear weapons during World War II and the Cold War. The site has since become contaminated with radioactive waste.

The examples illustrate how the NPL is used to identify and prioritize sites that require cleanup due to contamination. The Love Canal and Hanford Site are two of the most well-known sites on the NPL due to the severity of their contamination and the impact on human health and the environment. By identifying these sites and providing funding for cleanup efforts, the Superfund program aims to protect public health and the environment from the harmful effects of hazardous waste.