What federal law impacts the management of military munitions beyond the MMR?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) significantly impacts the management of military munitions beyond the scope of the Military Munitions Rule (MMR). CERCLA, also known as the Superfund law, was enacted to address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and to hold responsible parties accountable for the release of hazardous substances into the environment.

In the context of military munitions, CERCLA applies to the cleanup and management of sites contaminated by unexploded ordnance, chemical agents, and other hazardous materials associated with military activities. This law provides a framework for responding to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, ensuring that military installations properly manage and remediate hazardous waste related to munitions.

While the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act are important environmental statutes, they focus on different aspects of environmental protection and do not specifically address the cleanup and liability issues associated with past releases of hazardous substances from military munitions. CERCLA's emphasis on remediation and liability distinctly informs how military munitions are managed in terms of environmental impact and responsibility.