United States Office of Enforcement and November 2009 

Environmental Protection Agency Compliance Assurance 

Enforcement Discretion Guidance Regarding the 

Applicability of the Bona Fide Prospective 

Purchaser Definition in CERCLA Section 101(40) 

to Tenants: Frequently Asked Questions 

Office of Site Remediation Enforcement 

Where can I obtain a copy of EPA’s Tenants as BFPPs Guidance? 

EPA’s January 14, 2009 guidance titled, “Enforcement Discretion Guidance Regarding the 

Applicability of the Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Definition in CERCLA Section 101(40) to 

Tenants” (“Tenants Policy”), is available at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/ 

cleanup/superfund/bfpp-tenant-mem.pdf 

What is a bona fide prospective purchaser? 

A bona fide prospective purchaser, or “BFPP”, is “a person (or tenant of a person) that acquires 

ownership of a facility after [January 11, 2002]” and establishes that it meets certain threshold 

criteria and ongoing obligations identified at section 101(40)(A)-(H) of the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). BFPP status provides a 

landowner with protection against CERCLA owner liability and, if maintained, limits EPA’s 

recourse against a BFPP for unrecovered response costs to a lien on property for the lesser of the 

amount of unrecovered costs or the increase in the property’s fair market value attributable to 

EPA’s response action. CERCLA provides that tenants may be eligible to achieve BFPP status, 

as evidenced by the definition of BFPP in CERCLA section 101(40), which includes the phrase 

“tenant of a person.” 

How does the Tenants Policy impact a tenant’s ability to achieve BFPP status to protect 

against owner liability under CERCLA section 107(a)? 

Because the definition of BFPP includes the phrase “tenant of a person,” a tenant may derive 

BFPP status from an owner who satisfies the BFPP requirements. The tenant will remain a 

BFPP so long as the property owner maintains its BFPP status and the tenant does not (1) 

dispose of hazardous substances at the facility, or (2) impede the performance of a response 

action or natural resource restoration. In addition, the Tenants Policy sets forth situations in 

which EPA may exercise its enforcement discretion to treat certain tenants as BFPPs, 

independent of the property owner’s status. Enforcement discretion might be appropriate when 

the owner loses its own BFPP status (through no fault of the tenant), or when the tenant has 

certain indicia of ownership sufficient to be considered an “owner” under CERCLA and the 

tenant meets the requirements of CERCLA sections 101(40)(A)-(H) and 107(r)(1). 

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Can tenants be liable as an “owner” under CERCLA section 107(a)? 

Yes, the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals has found that certain lessees may have 

the requisite “indicia of ownership” of a property in order to be considered “owners” of a 

property for the purposes of CERCLA liability. Commander Oil v. Barlo Equip. Corp., 215 F. 

3d 321 (2d Cir. 2000). In this case, the court looked closely at the lease to determine the extent 

of the tenant’s responsibilities at the property, the autonomy of the tenant in making decisions 

regarding the property, and the authorization given by the owner for the tenant’s use of the 

property. Although the court did not specifically state which “indicia of ownership” would be 

sufficient to result in a finding of ownership for purposes of CERCLA liability, it mentioned 

factors like the length of the lease, the range of permitted uses, the need for prior permission 

from the owner for certain actions, reserved rights on the property by the owner, and who is 

responsible for taxes, insurance, and repairs. Id. at 331-32. 

How will a tenant determine if it is a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or if it 

is eligible for BFPP status? 

The protections afforded by BFPP status are self-implementing and, therefore, EPA does not 

make determinations as to whether a party qualifies for BFPP status. However, in exercising its 

enforcement discretion pursuant to the Tenants Policy (e.g., in deciding whether to treat a party 

as a BFPP in an enforcement action or a settlement), EPA will look at the site-specific facts. For 

example, in deciding to exercise its enforcement discretion pursuant to the Tenants Policy with 

respect to a tenant with indicia of ownership, EPA would evaluate whether the tenant’s lease 

agreement was entered into after January 11, 2002, and the tenant is complying with the 

requirements of CERCLA sections 101(40)(A)-(H) and 107(r)(1). EPA recommends that tenants 

seek legal counsel if they have concerns regarding CERCLA liability, their status as a BFPP 

status, or the protections afforded by BFPP status. 

How does a tenant “derive” BFPP status from the lessor/owner? 

A tenant may derive BFPP status from an owner who has satisfied and continues to maintain the 

BFPP requirements in section 101(40)(A)-(H) and does not: 

(1) Dispose of hazardous substances or exacerbate existing hazardous substance 

contamination at the facility or 

(2) Impede the performance of a response action or natural resource restoration. 

How does an owner maintain its BFPP status such that a tenant may derive its BFPP status 

from the owner? 

After initially qualifying as a BFPP, an owner must maintain compliance with the requirements 

of CERCLA section 101(40)(B)-(H). So long as the owner remains in compliance, the tenant 

has no independent duty to carry out those responsibilities. 

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What happens to a tenant’s liability status if the owner loses its BFPP protection? 

If the tenant’s protections are derived from the owner’s BFPP status, and the owner then loses its 

BFPP status, the tenant would no longer enjoy protection from liability. However, EPA may, 

depending on site-specific circumstances, exercise its enforcement discretion and treat the tenant 

as a BFPP, so long as the tenant: 

(1) does not dispose of hazardous substances on the property; 

(2) provides legally required notices; 

(3) takes reasonable steps with respect to hazardous substance releases; 

(4) provides cooperation, assistance and access; 

(5) complies with land use restrictions and institutional controls; 

(6) complies with information requests and administrative subpoenas; and 

(7) does not impede any response action or natural resource restoration. 

See CERCLA sections 101(40) and 107(r). If the tenant has sufficient “indicia of ownership” in 

order for EPA to exercise its enforcement discretion pursuant to the Tenants Policy (see above), 

then the owner’s loss of BFPP status will not impact the possible exercise of EPA’s enforcement 

discretion. 

What if the loss of the owner’s BFPP status is through no fault of the tenant? 

If a tenant derives its BFPP status through the owner and the owner loses its status through no 

fault of the tenant, EPA may exercise its enforcement discretion not to pursue the tenant under 

CERCLA section 107(a)(1). EPA will make a site-specific determination based on the seven 

requirements listed in the prior FAQ. There is no “All Appropriate Inquiry” into the previous 

ownership and uses of the property requirement under CERCLA section 101(40)(B)(i) for a 

tenant with derivative BFPP status, as is required for owners of property to achieve BFPP status. 

However, a tenant may want to obtain information on the prior uses of the property to have an 

informed basis on which to meet with the above criteria. 

Does a lease agreement with a liable party constitute an affiliation in violation of CERCLA 

section 101(40)(H)? 

CERCLA section 101(40)(H) provides that a person cannot achieve BFPP status if that person is 

affiliated with a liable party. Affiliations can result from familial, contractual, corporate, or 

financial relationships. There is an exception where the affiliation “is created by the instruments 

by which title to the facility is conveyed or financed....” CERCLA section 101(40)(H)(i)(II). 

Because there is no title transfer, a lease does not fall within the exception and, therefore, a lease 

with a liable party would constitute an “affiliation.” However, where a tenant has sufficient 

indicia of ownership to be considered an owner, EPA intends to exercise its enforcement 

discretion not to pursue the tenant under CERCLA section 107(a)(1) so long as the other 

requirements in CERCLA sections 101(40) and 107(r) are satisfied. If the tenant is otherwise 

affiliated with the PRP owner or has an affiliation with another responsible party at the site, the 

lease is designed to allow the landlord or tenant to avoid its CERCLA liability, or the tenant is 

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potentially liable for reasons other than its status as a tenant, then EPA will likely decline to 

exercise its enforcement discretion. 

Does EPA provide determinations of BFPP status on a site-specific basis? 

No, CERCLA sections 101(40) and 107(r)(1) are self-implementing. In very limited 

circumstances, EPA may determine it is necessary and appropriate to address a tenant’s liability 

concerns, e.g. through a comfort/status letter or a prospective lessee agreement. 

Does this guidance limit EPA’s ability to enforce CERCLA? 

No, this guidance does not limit EPA’s ability to enforce CERCLA where appropriate. EPA 

may deviate from this guidance as necessary and appropriate based on the facts of each case. 

This guidance is not intended to create new liabilities or limit or expand obligations. 

Questions regarding this reference sheet or EPA’s Tenants as BFPPs Guidance or prospective 

lessee agreements should be directed to Susan Boushell in EPA’s Office of Site Remediation 

Enforcement (202-564-2173, boushell.susan@epa.gov) or to the EPA Regional contacts listed 

below. Questions regarding comfort/status letters or prospective lessee agreements should be 

directed to Hollis Luzecky in EPA’s Office of Site Remediation Enforcement (202-564-4217, 

luzecky.hollis@epa.gov) or to the Regional contacts listed below. 

Regional Contacts 

Region 1: Rona Gregory (617) 918-1096 

Region 2: Michael Mintzer (212) 637-3168 

Region 3: Cynthia Weiss (215) 814-2659 

Region 4: Karen Singer (404) 562-9540 

Mary C. Johnson (404) 562-9526 

Rudy Tanasijevich (404) 562-9557 

Region 5: Thomas Krueger (312) 886-0562 

Region 6: Barbara Nann (214) 665-2157 

Region 7: Denise Roberts (913) 551-7559 

Region 8: Richard Baird (303) 312-6642 

Region 9: Marie Rongone (415) 972-3891 

 Thomas Butler (415) 972-3869 

Region 10: Kelly Cole (206) 553-1506 

This document is intended for employees of EPA and the Department of Justice and it creates no 

substantive rights for any persons. It is not a regulation and does not impose legal obligations. 

This document is not intended as a substitute for reading the statute or EPA’s January 14, 2009 

Guidance titled “Enforcement Discretion Guidance Regarding the Applicability of the Bona Fide 

Prospective Purchaser Definition in CERCLA Section 101(40) to Tenants.” Readers are strongly 

encouraged to review the guidance for more specific information on EPA’s Tenants Policy. 

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