EnvironmentalIntermediateCalifornia Exam

Which federal Superfund law holds current and past property owners potentially liable for cleanup of hazardous substances, even if they did not cause the contamination?

ARCRA, under California environmental disclosure law

BNEPA, as required under standard hazard disclosure practice

CCERCLACorrect

DTSCA, consistent with California environmental regulations

Why CERCLA Is Correct

Answer C: CERCLA

CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act), also known as Superfund, imposes strict, joint and several liability on potentially responsible parties including current owners, past owners, generators, and transporters of hazardous substances.

Exam Tip: Environmental

Environmental questions test knowledge of hazards like asbestos, lead-based paint, radon, and mold. Know the disclosure requirements and when a professional inspection is required. CERCLA liability is strict, joint, and several.

People Also Study

Key Terms to Know

Variance

Official permission to use land in a way that does not conform to the applicable zoning ordinance, granted by a zoning board when strict enforcement would cause undue hardship.

Joint Tenancy

Co-ownership where two or more people hold equal, undivided interests with the right of survivorship — when one owner dies, their share passes to the surviving owners.

Zoning

Local government regulations that control land use by dividing areas into zones specifying permitted uses, building sizes, and densities.

Eminent Domain

The power of government to take private property for public use, with the requirement to pay the owner just compensation.