N. States Power Co. v. City of Ashland

摘要

Wisconsin county is not liable in contribution action brought under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Section 113(f) for share of power company's contaminated site cleanup costs, because, even though county became involuntary owner of portion of site when prior owner failed to pay taxes: (1) under Section 101(20)(D) of CERCLA, definition of liable owners does not include units of government that involuntarily take title to property due to tax delinquency and that did not cause or contribute to release of hazardous substances from facility, and (2) county did not cause or contribute to release or threatened release of hazardous substances at site.