Environmental

A property in Portland's inner eastside has soil contamination from a former dry cleaning operation. Under Oregon DEQ rules, who bears primary responsibility for cleanup?

AThe current property owner, regardless of who caused the contamination✓ Correct
BThe city of Portland
COnly the company that originally caused the contamination
DThe adjacent property owners

Explanation

Under Oregon's Environmental Cleanup Law (ORS Chapter 465) and analogous to CERCLA (federal Superfund), liability for environmental cleanup can attach to current property owners even if they did not cause the contamination. This 'innocent landowner' issue is why Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments are critical in commercial transactions.

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