Opinion ID: 762018
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Other Categories of Potentially Responsible Parties

Text: 60 Prisco argues that some of the defendants should have been found to be potentially responsible parties under categories of § 107(a) other than the transporter category. She contends, for example, that Stamford may be held liable not only as a transporter but also as a generator of hazardous substances. See § 107(a) (42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(3)). Stamford responds that this argument should not be considered because this issue is being raised for the first time on appeal. See United States Fire Ins. Co. v. National Gypsum Co., 101 F.3d 813, 817 (2d Cir.1996), cert. denied, 521 U.S. 1120, 117 S.Ct. 2512, 138 L.Ed.2d 1015 (1997). Prisco rejoins that she did not argue this at trial because she reasonably believed the potentially responsible party issue to have been settled. 61 It does not matter who is right. Central to this claim, too, is proof that hazardous substances were indeed generated by a particular defendant. As discussed above, the district court, as finder of fact, concluded that the presence of any hazardous substances in Stamford's material was not proven, and we have held that determination not to have been clear error. Even if appropriately considered on this appeal, then, Stamford still cannot be held liable on this theory. 62 Finally, Prisco argues that the trial court erred by rejecting the argument that defendants LaBate and AFC may be held liable as responsible parties because they were operators of the Prisco landfill at the time hazardous substances were deposited there. See § 107(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(2)). Again, however, our prior analysis of the transporter liability issue compels the opposite conclusion. Although it is clear that some hazardous substances are now at the site, it is unproven whether they were or were not already there when the LaBate/AFC operation began. The district court, as fact-finder, decided that Prisco had not carried her burden of proof on this issue, and on appeal Prisco has provided no basis for this Court to conclude that that decision was clearly erroneous.