Opinion ID: 2971540
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Milford’s Response Costs Were “Required”

Text: To be recoverable under NREPA, response costs must be “necessary.” Michigan courts have read “necessary” to mean “required.” City of Port Huron v. Amoco Oil Co., 583 N.W.2d 215, 222 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998). One “required” activity is evaluation of a threat to public health or natural resources. Id. MDNR required Milford to increase monitoring of its wells. It also advised Milford to undertake additional studies of its groundwater contamination. MDEQ considered the contamination to be “a threat to . . . Milford’s water supply, the public health, and the environment.” These facts evince that Milford’s activities were “required” and therefore “necessary” under NREPA. Because the district court erred in finding that K-H did not cause a release of hazardous substances, and because at least some of Milford’s costs were “required,” we remand the case to the district court to determine which costs were required. No. 03-1597 Village of Milford v. K-H Holding Corp., et al. Page 8