The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently reinforced a Circuit split on what kind of settlement agreement allows a claimant to pursue a contribution claim against other PRPs under Section 113(f)(3)(B) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). In Asarco v. Atlantic Ritchfield, (9th Cir. 8/10/17), the Court held that Congress did not intend to limit Section 113(f)(3)(B) contribution actions to the recovery of costs incurred in response actions under CERCLA settlements. Non-CERCLA settlements, such as for implementation of corrective measures under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), may provide the necessary predicate for a CERCLA… Read more