Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Statue of Limitations for Recovery of/Contribution to Environmental Response Costs Under CERCLA as They Related to GOCOs (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Abstract
This effort explores the statute of limitation ("SOL") issues facing DOD agencies seeking reimbursement for GOCO- (Government-Owned Contractor- Operated military industrial facilities) related voluntarily initiated environmental response costs pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The SOL for such reimbursement various drastically depending upon the legal basis for the reimbursement action and the United States Circuit Court of Appeals circuit in which it is brought. For instance, one circuit has held that there is no federal cause of action to recoup costs for such voluntary cleanups unless the plaintiff is the recipient of an abatement order or embroiled in litigation. Under that holding, CEROLA SOLs are not even an issue since the court decided that state-based claims for contribution are the only available remedy for such plaintiffs. Conversely, the SOL for reimbursement actions in the other circuits can range from as short a period as three years to there being no time-bar whatsoever.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA410727
Entities
People
- Floyd S. Risley
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology