Law Commons^™

Water Federalism And The Army Corps Of Engineers' Role In Eastern States Water Allocation, Robert Haskell Abrams

Journal Publications

It is black letter constitutional theory that the several states are the masters of their property law, and hence their water law. For that reason, states have been free to adopt regimes as widely different as reasonable use riparianism and prior appropriation, depending on local conditions and perceived needs. Superimposed on the same physical water resource network, is the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The presence of Corps' facilities in basins now experiencing short supply opens the door to state and federal water allocation conflict that calls for mediation under the principles of water federalism, a doctrine that …

What Evidence Will Justify An Allocation Of Liability Among Responsible Parties Under Superfund?, Robert H. Abrams

Journal Publications

Burlington No. & Santa Fe R. Co. v. United States and Shell Oil Co. v. United States Docket Nos. 07-1601 and 07-1607. Argument date: February 24, 2009, From: The Ninth Circuit

Case at a Glance: Over a 30-year period Shell Oil delivered bulk agricultural chemicals to a now-contaminated reseller's site in California. Part of the site was leased from Burlington Northern Railroad. When the site operator failed, the United States and California incurred costs in cleaning the parcel and successfully sought to impose joint and several liability on Shell and the railroad. Shell contends it is not liable under Superfund …