The former owner of a vermiculite mine in Libby,Mont.,must pay the Environmental Protection Agency 54.5 million in cleanup costs and is liable for future cleanup costs,a federal appeals court ruled Dec. 1(United States v. W.R. Grace & Co.,9th Cir.,No. 03-35924,12/1/05). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's 2003 ruling in favor of EPA regarding the liability of W.R. Grace & Co. at the federal superfund site.The three-judge panel held that EPA did not exceed its authority in conducting cleanup activities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation,and Liability Act.
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