October Term 2019 · Docket 17-1498
Can state courts order separate cleanups at federal Superfund sites?
Landowners seek state court orders for specific cleanups. ARCO argues federal law blocks these suits.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Blatt argued state lawsuits should not implement piecemeal cleanups.
Mr. Palmore argued the Court lacks jurisdiction over the appeal.
Ms. Blatt cited the contiguous landowner provision in federal law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if state courts can order cleanups at federal Superfund sites. ARCO argues federal law preempts these state actions. Landowners claim state law allows separate remediation plans. The dispute centers on the scope of federal preemption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 3, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
What each side wants
ARCO wants the Court to affirm the lower court's denial of its motion.
Landowners want the Court to allow their state law damages claim to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
What each side says
ARCO argues federal law preempts state court orders for separate cleanups.
Landowners argue state law permits separate remediation plans alongside federal efforts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if EPA approval changes the legal analysis.
Justice Sotomayor asked if state law requires a specific damages remedy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between state and federal environmental enforcement. It determines whether landowners can pursue separate state court remedies. The outcome shapes the legal landscape for hazardous waste cleanup disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-17
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.