Nexus Between Prior Owner of Contaminated Property and Discharge Required for Liability Under New Jersey Spill Act

March 7, 2022
Danielle N. Bagwell, Esq.
MGKF Litigation Blog

In Borough of Edgewater v. Waterside Construction, LLC, et al., 2022 WL 557903 (D.N.J. Feb. 24, 2004), Plaintiff Borough of Edgewater (“Edgewater”) brought Spill Act claims relating to PCB contaminated material which was used as fill in a public park project.  At issue was whether Arconic, as a prior owner of the property from which the fill was obtained, was “in any way” responsible for contamination resulting from use of the fill at another property.  The Court held that, because Arconic had no control over the property, and hence the fill, at the time of the its subsequent use, it was not liable to the Borough under the Spill Act.

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