Document Overview

Model document comfort/status letter for situations where a Region determines that potential federal liability under CERCLA should be addressed to shield qualifying Good Samaritans from potential CERLCA liability that could arise as a result of conducting cleanup activity. Superfund comfort/status letters are provided solely for informational purposes and discuss the potential for or actual EPA involvement under Superfund based upon the information presently known to EPA about the property.

Supporting Documents

Transmittal of the 2019 Policy on the Issuance of Superfund Comfort/Status Letters
Date: 08/21/2019
Transmittal memorandum, guidance, and model comfort/status letters for parties interested in acquiring contaminated, potentially contaminated, and formerly contaminated properties for reuse and redevelopment. The policy discusses the background of EPA’s issuance of Superfund comfort/status letters, describes the purpose and intent of these letters, and includes four updated model letters.

Clean Water Act § 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Requirements for "Good Samaritans" at Orphan Mine Sites (10 pp, 10.0 K)
Date: 12/12/2012
Memorandum describes two clarifications, one under CERCLA and one under the Clean Water Act to provide clarification regarding permit obligations for Good Samaritans.

Interim Guiding Principles for Good Samaritan Projects at Orphan Mine Sites and Transmittal of CERCLA Administrative Tools for Good Samaritans
Date: 06/06/2007
Memorandum to assist the Regions in the implementation of the Good Samaritan Initiative and focuses on administrative tools developed under CERCLA, which includes a model comfort/status letter and model settlement agreement and order on consent for removal actions by Good Samaritans at orphan mine sites.

Revision History

Review and update URLs. Correct error.
03/01/2016

• Reviewed and updated existing URLs throughout the document – page 2. Corrected typographical error

Grammatical and formatting changes
08/25/2015

• As part of conversion to Word, made grammatical and formatting updates to the 2007 version. Updated URL references. No substantive changes.

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