Final answer:
Superfund is the program responsible for the cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites created prior to RCRA, ensuring management of hazardous waste from its origin to disposal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Superfund program is responsible for regulating and enforcing the cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites as well as sites with hazardous waste created prior to the enactment of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This program was developed following the environmental wake-up call given by the Love Canal tragedy, marking the federal government's commitment to dealing with the severe health risks presented by uncontrolled hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste management under the RCRA requires generators to determine if their waste is hazardous and to ensure that it is managed properly all the way from creation to disposal—the so-called cradle-to-grave approach. This includes transport, treatment, storage, and finally, proper disposal or recycling.
Despite advancements in hazardous waste management, there are still over a thousand major hazardous waste sites undergoing the cleanup process to mitigate their risk to human health and the environment.