Contact: Matt Dempsey 202-224-9797 matt_dempsey@epw.senate.gov

Inhofe Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Liability Case

Congress Should Take Note of Decision, Inhofe Says

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement  on the ruling of the United States Supreme Court that Shell Oil Co. cannot be held responsible for cleanup of a contaminated site simply because it delivered chemicals to a now-defunct company on the site.

"I applaud today's common-sense ruling by the US Supreme Court," Sen. Inhofe said.  "Businesses should not be liable for cleanup of contaminated sites which they are not responsible.  And I hope that, as Congress considers reinstating the Superfund tax, a policy I strongly oppose, because it is inherently unfair and ultimately counter-productive, that it takes this ruling into account."