Government Must Pay Cleanup Costs At Refineries That Produced Military Fuel

摘要

The federal government is liable for cleanup costs of two refineries that produced aviation fuel for the military during World War II because of specific provisions in the contracts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims has held (Exxon Mobil Corp. v. United States, Fed. Cl., No. 09-265C, 10/31/11). During World War II, the United States required large quantities of aviation gasoline. The need for "av-gas" prompted the government to order oil refineries to maximize its production, which resulted in the United States contracting with two refineries, one in Baton Rouge, La., and one in Baytown, Texas, for the production and supply of avgas.