June 27, 2007 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 27, 2007
Contact: Garry Adelman
E-mail: gadelman@historyassociates.com
Telephone: (301) 279-9697

HAI Historians Attend ELI Seminar on Atlantic Research Decision

On June 25 HAI Litigation Research Division director Mike Reis and Litigation Research Division deputy director Steve Swisdak attended a seminar sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute entitled "Superfund Cost Recovery and Contribution: What to Expect After Atlantic Research & Aviall." Held at the Washington, DC, office of Paul Hastings, seminar panelists included leading attorneys from Paul Hastings, K&L Gates, Beveridge & Diamond, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

On June 11 the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in United States v. Atlantic Research Corporation that Section 107(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) allows potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to site contamination to bring cost recovery actions against other PRPs, including the federal government. Such action is possible even if the party bringing suit voluntarily cleaned up a site and could not bring a contribution action under Section 113(f) of CERCLA. Panelists at the ELI Seminar discussed the ramifications of the Court's decision, reaching general consensus that, at a minimum, Atlantic Research would expand the legal avenues by which PRPs could recover incurred site remediation costs.

For more than twenty-five years HAI has conducted historical research into Superfund sites across the country. In addition to identifying historical PRPs to site contamination, HAI has experience assisting attorneys in natural resources damages allocation and equitable cost allocation arrangements. With the Atlantic Research decision, HAI stands ready to assist attorneys as they seek to recover site remediation costs from other PRPs and the federal government.

About History Associates Incorporated: For more than twenty-five years the historians and archivists at History Associates Incorporated have demonstrated that history is valuable in the market as well as the marketplace of ideas. HAI's nearly sixty employees provide professional historical research, writing, exhibit content, archives, and records management services to clients throughout the United States and around the world. HAI serves these corporate, government, and nonprofit clients from its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, with an office in Brea, California. History Associates strives to be The Best Company in History®. For more information, call (301) 279-9697 or visit www.historyassociates.com.