LSI 2010 NRD Santa Fe final conference binder 072110.pdf

David J. Lazerwitz of Farella Braun + Martel LLP Speaker 6: 9
Additional Statutory Defenses
• Federally permitted release (9607(j))
• Defined as a discharge pursuant to a permit issued under
11 permit categories (e.g., CWA, CAA, RCRA)
• Excludes discharge exceedances (Idaho v. Bunker Hill)
• Commingled discharges (In re Acushnet)
• Identified irreversible and irretrievable
commitment of resources (9607(f)(1))
• Damages specifically identified as an “irreversible and
irretrievable commitment of resources” in an EIS (Hanna)
• Act of God, act of war, act or omission of third
party (9607(b))
• Statutory cap on damages of $50M per release
(9607(c)(1)(D))
• No double recovery (9607(f)(1))
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Right of Third-Party Contribution
• Derived from CERCLA
• Section 107(a)(4)(C) – trustee cause of action
• Section 113(f) – potentially liable party under 107 (a)
possesses right of contribution “during or following”
action from any other liable or potentially liable party
• Unaffected by Aviall and Atlantic Research
• Procedural issues
• Three year statute of limitations (9613(g)(3))
• FRCP impleader and consolidation vs. severance
• Defendant have burden to show divisibility or
reasonable basis for apportionment (Monsanto)
• State equivalents
• Derived from statute or common law
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Law Seminars International | Natural Resource Damages | 07/15/10 in Santa Fe, NM