---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9616"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9616"
heading: "Schedules"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9616"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability"
  - "Subchapter I — Hazardous Substances Releases, Liability, Compensation"
---

# §9616. Schedules

- (a) **Assessment and listing of facilities—** It shall be a goal of this chapter that, to the maximum extent practicable—
  - (1) not later than January 1, 1988, the President shall complete preliminary assessments of all [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) that are contained (as of October 17, 1986) on the Comprehensive Environmental [Response](/usc/42/9601.md?p=25), Compensation, and [Liability](/usc/42/9601.md?p=32) Information System (CERCLIS) including in each assessment a statement as to whether a site inspection is necessary and by whom it should be carried out; and
  - (2) not later than January 1, 1989, the President shall assure the completion of site inspections at all [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) for which the President has stated a site inspection is necessary pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Evaluation—** Within 4 years after October 17, 1986, each [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) listed (as of October 17, 1986) in the CERCLIS shall be evaluated if the President determines that such evaluation is warranted on the basis of a site inspection or preliminary assessment. The evaluation shall be in accordance with the criteria established in [section 9605 of this title](/usc/42/9605.md) under the [National Contingency Plan](/usc/42/9601.md?p=31) for determining priorities among [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) for inclusion on the National Priorities List. In the case of a [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) listed in the CERCLIS after October 17, 1986, the [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) shall be evaluated within 4 years after the date of such listing if the President determines that such evaluation is warranted on the basis of a site inspection or preliminary assessment.
- (c) **Explanations—** If any of the goals established by subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) are not achieved, the President shall publish an explanation of why such action could not be completed by the specified date.
- (d) **Commencement of RI/FS—** The President shall assure that remedial investigations and feasibility studies (RI/FS) are commenced for [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) listed on the National Priorities List, in addition to those commenced prior to October 17, 1986, in accordance with the following schedule:
  - (1) not fewer than 275 by the date 36 months after October 17, 1986, and
  - (2) if the requirement of [paragraph (1)](#d-1) is not met, not fewer than an additional 175 by the date 4 years after October 17, 1986, an additional 200 by the date 5 years after October 17, 1986, and a total of 650 by the date 5 years after October 17, 1986.
- (e) **Commencement of remedial action—** The President shall assure that substantial and continuous physical on-site [remedial action](/usc/42/9601.md?p=24) commences at [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) on the National Priorities List, in addition to those [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) on which [remedial action](/usc/42/9601.md?p=24) has commenced prior to October 17, 1986, at a rate not fewer than:
  - (1) 175 [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) during the first 36-month period after October 17, 1986; and
  - (2) 200 additional [facilities](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) during the following 24 months after such 36-month period.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–510, title I, § 116, as added Pub. L. 99–499, title I, § 116, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1653.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 96–510, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2767, known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9601 of this title and Tables.