Morrison Enterprises v. Dravo Corporation

Apr 5: In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, Case No: 10-1468 & 10-1469. On appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. The Appeals Court explained that Morrison Enterprises, LLC (Morrison) and the City of Hastings, Nebraska (City) (collectively, appellants), and Dravo Corporation (Dravo) are liable within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) for hazardous substances released at the Hastings Ground Water Contamination Site (Site). Appellants each sued Dravo under § 107(a) of CERCLA, seeking to recover some of the costs they incurred responding to contaminated ground water at the Site.

 

    The district court denied appellants' motions for summary judgment and granted summary judgment to Dravo on appellants' cost-recovery claims. The district court held (1) CERCLA § 113(f), 42 U.S.C. § 9613(f), provided appellants' exclusive remedy to recover response costs incurred removing contaminants from the City's ground water, and (2) the City's water supply system claims were untimely. The Appeals Court affirmed the district court decision.

 

    The Appeals Court explains further as part of its decision, "We agree with the district court that the City's previously filed counterclaims against Dravo for declaratory judgment and contribution under § 113(f) do not constitute an initial action to recover response costs under § 107(a). Section 113(g)(2) refers to initial and subsequent actions to recover costs specifically under § 107, not contribution claims under § 113(g). In addition, as Dravo points out, § 113(g)(2)(A) and (B) each set forth a specific limitation period that applies to initial actions. Section 113(g)(3) sets forth a separate limitation period for contribution claims. Allowing a contribution claim to serve as the initial action under § 113(g)(2) would impermissibly subject the action to two different limitation periods. The City's contention conflicts with the express language and the overall scheme of CERCLA."

 

    Access the complete opinion (click here).