Opinion ID: 482542
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: CERCLA Findings

Text: 13 CERCLA Sec. 104, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9604, authorizes the EPA to take direct response actions, which can include either short-term removal actions or long-term remedial actions or both, pursuant to the NCP, with funds from the Superfund, 2 and to seek recovery of response costs from responsible parties pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 107, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607, in order to replenish the Superfund. The EPA can also use CERCLA Sec. 106, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9606, to seek injunctions to compel responsible parties to clean up hazardous waste sites that constitute an imminent and substantial endangerment to health and the environment. In the present case, count II sought injunctive relief pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 106, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9606, and count III sought recovery of the government's past and future response costs pursuant to CERCLA Secs. 104, 107, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 9604, 9607. 14 The district court applied CERCLA retroactively, 579 F.Supp. at 839, but held the government could not recover response costs incurred before the effective date of CERCLA, December 11, 1980. Id. at 841. The district court also held CERCLA imposes a standard of strict liability, id. at 843-44, and that responsible parties can be held jointly and severally liable, id. at 844-45. 15 The district court also found NEPACCO liable as an owner or operator pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 107(a)(1), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a)(1). Id. at 847. With respect to the individual defendants, the district court found Mills liable as a person who ... accepted any hazardous substances for transport to disposal ... sites selected by such person, pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 107(a)(4), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a)(4). Id. Mills was not represented by counsel in the district court and has not appealed. The district court also found Lee liable as an owner or operator pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 107(a)(1), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a)(1), and as a person who by contract, agreement, or otherwise ... arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal ... of hazardous substances, pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 107(a)(3), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a)(3). Id. at 847-49. The district court found Michaels liable as a person who arranged for the transport and disposal of hazardous substances pursuant to CERCLA Sec. 107(a)(3), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a)(3). Id. at 849 n. 31. The liability of NEPACCO, Lee, Michaels, and Mills was joint and several. Id. at 849-50. 16 The district court further found the government's right to recovery of response costs was very broad and included litigation costs, attorney's fees, future response costs, and prejudgment interest, and that the defendants in an action by the government for recovery of response costs had the burden of proving that the government's response costs were inconsistent with the NCP. Id. at 850-52. NEPACCO, Michaels and Lee have appealed. Mills has not appealed. The government filed a cross-appeal. Syntex filed an amicus curiae brief, generally in support of appellants' retroactivity arguments. 3