The Superfund site cleanup process begins with the reporting of possible releases of hazardous substances by individual citizens, responsible parties or EPA regional offices. The EPA then registers the information in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS), an electronic record of sites affected by potentially hazardous substances.

The EPA examines possible release of hazardous substances from a site via several processes:

• Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI)- reports the initial/current state of a site
• HRS Scoring- determines if the site should be on the National Priorities List (NPL)
• NPL Site Listing Process- prioritizes the most serious sites
• Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)- studies the degree of site contamination
• Record of Decision (ROD)- explains which cleanup alternatives will be used to clean up a Superfund site. The ROD for sites listed on the NPL is created from information generated during the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)
• Remedial Design/Remedial Action (RD/RA)- discusses effective remediation options
• Construction Completion- signals the end of the site cleanup process
• Post Construction Completion - ensures long-term protection for the community and the environment.

The development of Superfund site cleanup plans includes several cleanup options. The EPA regularly invites public comment on the cleanup process in their community. The EPA also encourages citizens to participate in community advisory groups.