According to CERCLA §120, how must U.S. departments and agencies comply with CERCLA?

The correct answer reflects the principle that U.S. departments and agencies must comply with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) standards in the same manner as private entities. This interpretation ensures that federal agencies are held to high standards of environmental protection and liability when dealing with hazardous waste and contaminated sites.

The rationale behind this requirement is to maintain consistency in environmental regulations and to prevent different standards from being applied depending on the source of the entity responsible for contamination. This uniformity promotes accountability and assures the public that both governmental and private actions are guided by the same comprehensive framework aimed at protecting human health and the environment.

The emphasis on treating federal departments and agencies equally to private entities ensures that they are not able to evade responsibility by virtue of their governmental status. It reinforces the notion that environmental laws are meant to apply uniformly, regardless of whether the party involved is a government agency or a private corporation.

In contrast, the other options either suggest a disparity in treatment or imply limitations that do not align with the intent of CERCLA. Therefore, the commitment of federal entities to adhere to the same stringent standards as their private counterparts underscores the comprehensive approach of CERCLA in addressing and remediating environmental hazards.