Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, May 17, 2001

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Henry Fawell Thursday, May 1 7, 2001 202/225-306 1 Congressman Ehrlich Moves to Relieve Small Businesses of Unnecessary Superfund Liability WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (MD-2) voted today to protect small businesses from assuming unnecessary liability for the clean-up costs of Superfund sites. The Small Business Liability Protection Act was adopted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which Congressman Ehrlich is a member. The Small Business Liability Protection Act shields businesses from the cost of a Superfund site cleanup if they did not contribute a significant amount of non-hazardous waste. This bill also provides small businesses with protection from frivolous and protracted litigation over Superfund cleanup. Congressman Ehrlich stated, “Today’s vote brings Baltimore one step closer to a fair, modernized Superfund cleanup system. By enacting this legislation, we can save small businesses that are largely innocent of Superfund contamination from irrelevant cleanup costs and damaging litigation.” The legislation states that a small business owner is not responsible for the costs associated with cleanup at a Superfund site if they disposed or arranged for the disposal of only 110 gallons or less of non-hazardous liquid or less than 200 pounds of non-hazardous solid materials. The Municipal Solid Waste Exemption provision excludes businesses from liability under Superfund if they generate their waste onsite and employ no more than 1 00 workers. In addition to insulating small businesses from protracted litigation, the bill allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to settle a cleanup claim with a business for a lesser amount if the business is financially unable to pay for the cleanup and otherwise fully cooperates with the EPA in its cleanup efforts. Congressman Ehrlich continued, “Big polluters will pay for cleanup so that small businesses will not be needlessly dragged into lawsuits. This bill provides a fair and accountable method by which localities such as Baltimore can safely maintain Superfund sites.” m