Stormwater Ruling Suggests Superfund 'Arranger' Liability Still Broad

摘要

A recent federal court ruling finding the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) potentially liable under the Superfund law for highway stormwater runoff demonstrates that some courts are still applying "arranger" liability broadly despite a Supreme Court decision that appeared to limit its reach, lawyers say.rnIn the June 7 ruling in the case United States v. WSDOT, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington held the state department potentially liable as an arranger of hazardous waste disposal under Superfund because it designed a highway stormwater runoff system that contributed to the contamination of local waterbodies.