EPA has a longstanding policy to pursue "enforcement first" throughout the entire Superfund cleanup process. Under this policy, EPA seeks, as appropriate, to find potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to perfonn response actions before EPA proceeds with an action funded by the Hazardous Substance Trust Fund (Fund). This policy promotes the "polluter pays" principle and helps to conserve the resources ofthe Fund for the cleanup ofthose sites where liable and viable responsible parties do not exist.
