Assigning liability for Superfund cleanups

While more than 2,700 emergency removals of hazardous materials have taken place under Superfund, implementing the long-term cleanup program has been the object of considerable controversy. One of the most contentious issues is whether the liability standards in the law should be revised. The authors analyze the pros and cons associated with the current liability approach, as well as with a variety of alternative strategies.

Katherine N. Probst is a senior fellow at Resources for the Future.

Paul R. Portney is president and a senior fellow of Resources for the Future. Probst and Portney are both co-authors of Footing the Bill for Superfund Cleanups: Who Pays and How?