On July 27, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in a novel air emissions case under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA).  In Joseph Pakootas, et al. v. Teck Cominco Metals, the Ninth Court of Appeals held that the defendant smelter operator was not liable as an “arranger” under CERCLA for aerial emissions deposited on land or water.  The case involved air emissions from a lead/zinc smelter in Canada, which were transported by wind and deposited at a CERCLA site in the State of Washington.  The district court had… Read more