The hazardous substance cleanup program created by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA, P.L. 99-499, December 11, 1980), as amended. The normal application of fertilizer is explicitly excluded from the definition of "release" under CERCLA. The name commonly applied to CERCLA and the funds generated under it for use in the program for cleaning up hazardous wastes improperly dumped in the past. The law gives the EPA authority to recover the costs of the cleanup from parties it determines were responsible for causing or contributing to the problem.