SpeakersMarie Rongone
Section Chief
EPA Region IX, Office of Legal Counsel
Morgan Gilhuly
Partner, Barg Coffin Lewis & Trapp, LLP
Gary Smith
Partner, Beveridge & Diamond PC
ModeratorDave Metres
Barg Coffin Lewis & Trapp, LLP
DiscussionThe federal Superfund law, CERCLA, governs the investigation, cleanup, and liability for polluted sites throughout the United States. As a result, CERCLA is one of the most commonly encountered environmental laws. CERCLA and its governing principles touch on the full range of human endeavors, from shifting liability in multi-million dollar corporate transactions to affecting people right in their own homes.
Accordingly, any attorney interested in or practicing environmental law should have a solid understanding of CERCLA, and when CERCLA considerations might arise. For the attorney not specializing in environmental law, particularly corporate and real estate transaction lawyers, this panel will introduce you to key considerations for deals involving property—even for property that is supposed to be free from pollution.
Topics• Introduction to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as the Superfund Law
• Overview of Key CERCLA Principles and Provisions
• Case Studies of Hot Topics Arising under CERCLA, including: brownfields redevelopment and real estate transactions, defenses to CERCLA liability, navigating clients and managing cleanups at complex multi-party sites, vapor intrusion, and other hot topics
• The CERCLA Lawyers’ Toolbox: tools every CERCLA lawyer should have at the ready.