Which federal law requires that hazardous materials incidents be reported?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is the correct answer because it specifically mandates that hazardous materials incidents, particularly those related to releases of hazardous substances, be reported. The law was enacted to address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and ensure that the federal government can respond to environmental emergencies. Under CERCLA, responsible parties must notify the National Response Center about any release of hazardous substances that exceeds the established thresholds.

The Community Right-to-Know Act primarily focuses on providing the public, particularly communities, access to information about hazardous chemicals and emergency planning, rather than directly requiring the reporting of hazardous materials incidents. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act deals with the management of hazardous waste but does not specifically outline incident reporting. Lastly, the Toxic Substances Control Act regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals but does not encompass broader reporting requirements for hazardous materials incidents.