Since the 1980s, a growing awareness of environmental issues has influenced U.S. policy and public opinion. One significant legislation aimed at addressing environmental concerns is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as the Superfund Act, enacted in 1980. This act was initiated in response to environmental disasters and the need for federal action to clean up hazardous waste sites.

In the context of increasing environmental awareness and advocacy, which of the following environmental trends or actions post-1980 is most directly linked to the prevention of future ecological damage and the restoration of polluted sites?