Opinion ID: 3010114
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: CERCLA's Purposes

Text: We have explained our confidence that the meaning of the words defining disposal does not encompass the gradual spreading of waste in a landfill and that this conclusion is supported by the structure of the innocent owner defense. We also conclude that this reading of disposal is consistent with CERCLA's purposes. Congress enacted CERCLA with two principal goals in minds -- to facilitate the cleanup of potentially dangerous hazardous waste sites, Tippins Inc. v. USX Corp., 37 F.3d 87, 92 (3d Cir. 1994), and to force polluters to pay the costs associated with their pollution, United States v. Alcan Aluminum, 964 F.2d 252, 257-58 (3d Cir. 1992). See United States v. USX Corp., 68 F.3d 811, 814 (3d Cir. 1995). Our holding is clearly consistent with the latter purpose. Those who owned previously contaminated property where waste spread without their aid cannot reasonably be characterized as polluters; excluding them from liability will not let those who cause the pollution off the hook. And, many of these owners will pay for the pollution: if they disclose the fact that the land contains waste, their selling price will reflect the cost of CERCLA liability. If they have knowledge of contamination and do not disclose it to a transferee, they are liable for response costs even after the transfer. 42 U.S.C. § 9601(35)(C). The only prior owners who will not pay any cleanup costs are those who bought and sold the land with no knowledge that the land is contaminated. And our holding will not undermine the goal of facilitating the cleanup of potentially dangerous hazardous waste sites. Even if owners of previously contaminated land can evade liability by transferring the land, ample incentives remain to promote cleanup. See United States v. Petersen Sand and Gravel, Inc., 806 F. Supp. 1346, 1353 (N.D. Ill. 1992); Bronston, supra at 63740. Present owners and operators remain strictly liable for the costs of cleanup, 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(1), as do some prior owners, id. § 9607(a)(2), people who arranged for disposal, id. § 9607(a)(3), and transporters of hazardous substances, id. § 9607(a)(4). Moreover, a number of provisions ensure that contamination will be discovered and the fact of contamination disclosed if the land is transferred. CERCLA imposes criminal liability (including prison sentences) for failure to report a release of hazardous substances above a certain threshold. See42 U.S.C. § 9603. As mentioned, if an owner transfers land that it knows to be contaminated without disclosing the contamination, it remains liable even after the transfer. 42 U.S.C. § 9601(35)(C). In addition, the innocent owner defense encourages potential buyers to investigate the possibility of contamination before a purchase. See 42 U.S.C. § 9601(35)(B) (in order to claim the innocent owner defense, a defendant must have undertaken all appropriate inquiry). Thus, for the reasons we have stated, we agree with the district court that HMAT cannot proceed on its passive theory of disposal: the movement of contaminants alleged here does not constitute disposal. However, because we conclude that HMAT may proceed on its active theory of disposal, the issue to which we now turn, we will vacate the court's order granting summary judgment to Dowel on HMAT's CERCLA claim.