De Minimis/De Micromis Policies and Models

This category outlines EPA's procedures for de minimis and "de micromis" settlements. A de minimis settlement, in general, is a settlement between EPA and those parties who are responsible for a minimal contribution, in amount and toxicity, of the hazardous substances at a Superfund site, or who bought the site without knowledge of the contamination and did not cause or contribute to the contamination. "De micromis" settlements are a subset of de minimis contributor settlements which may be available to parties who generated or transported a minuscule amount of waste to a Superfund site.

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Revisions to 2009 ARC Memo and Issuance of Revised CERCLA Past Cost, Peripheral, De Minimis, De Micromis, and Municipal Solid Waste Settlement Models - (9/26/14) Transmittal memorandum revises, for purposes of all EPA settlement models issued under CERCLA, certain language included in the March 16, 2009 “ARC Memo” and announces issuance of 13 revised CERCLA judicial and administrative settlement models and two documents containing ability to pay inserts for the de minimis contributor models. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-revisions-2009-arc-memo-and-issuance-cercla-payment-models (PDF 382K)

Interim Revisions to CERCLA Notice Letters and Update of Superfund and Small Waste Contributors Brochure to Notify Potential Settlors about Atlantic Research Corporation Decision - (4/30/08) Transmittal memorandum and six model documents and a brochure regarding contribution claims afforded by de minimis settlements after the Supreme Court's decision in Atlantice Research Corporation. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-update-superfund-notice-letters-and-small-waste-contributors-brochure-based-arc (PDF 252 K)

Model Notice of Eligibility to Receive a De Minimis Party Settlement - (4/30/08) Model notice letter regarding eligibility to receive a de minimis party settlement. https://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/models/view.cfm?model_ID=632 (PDF 46 K)

Model Notice Approving Reduction in Settlement Amount Based on Inability to Pay - (4/30/08) Model notice letter regarding approving reduction in settlement amount based on inability to pay. https://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/models/view.cfm?model_ID=427 (PDF 48 K)

Model Notice Denying Reduction in Settlement Amount Based on Inability to Pay - (4/30/08) Model notice letter regarding denying reduction in settlement amount based on inability to pay. https://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/models/view.cfm?model_ID=428 (PDF 43 K)

Sample General Notice Letter - (4/30/08) Sample model general notice letter to potentially responsible parties. https://cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/models/view.cfm?model_ID=394 (PDF 51 K)

Interim Guidance on the Ability to Pay and De Minimis Revisions to CERCLA Section 122g by the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act - (5/17/04) Guidance document and four model notice documents on ability to pay and de minimis revisions to CERCLA 122(g) under the 2002 Brownfields Amendments https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-ability-pay-and-de-minimis-revisions-cercla-section-122g (PDF 150 K)

Model Notice of Ineligibility to Receive a De Minimis Party Settlement - (5/17/04) Attachment C to Interim Guidance on the Ability to Pay and De Minimis Revisions to CERCLA 122(g) by the 2002 Brownfields Amendments http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/model-notice-ineligibility-receive-de-minimis-party-settlement (PDF 24 K)

Issuance of Revised Model CERCLA Section 122(g)(4) De Minimis Contributor Consent Decree and Administrative Order on Consent and New Model Ability to Pay Provisions for Use in De Minimis Settlements (Cover Memo and All Attachments) - (8/12/03) Cover memorandum and four attachments containing model language for de minimis settlement consent decrees and/or administrative orders and ability to pay provisions in de minimis settlements for ability to pay and non-ability to pay parties. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/issuance-revised-model-cercla-section-122g4-de-minimis-contributor-consent-decree-and (PDF 814 K)

Revised Settlement Policy and Contribution Waiver Language Regarding Exempt De Micromis and Non-Exempt De Micromis Parties - (11/6/02) Memo transmits revised policy & model contribution waiver language re new Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Includes 5 attachments of model language. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-settlement-policy-contribution-waiver-language-regarding-de-micromis-parties (PDF 480 KB)

Standardizing the De Minimis Premium - (7/7/95) Guidance is intended to simplify the premium determination process and promote greater national consistency in this aspect of de minimis settlements https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-standardizing-de-minimis-premium

Communications Strategy for Settlements with Small Volume Waste Contributors - (9/30/93) Memorandum outlines communication strategy and attaches model documents for assist the Regions settlements with de minimis parties. Memorandum outlines communication strategy and attaches model documents for assist the Regions settlements with de minimis parties. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-communication-strategy-superfund-settlements-small-volume-waste-contributors (PDF 694 K)

Streamlined Approach for Settlements with De Minimis Waste Contributors under CERCLA Section 122 (g)(1)(A) - (7/30/93) Streamlined Approach for Settlements with De Minimis Waste Contributors under CERCLA Section 122 (g) (1)(A), OSWER No. 9834.7-1D. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-de-minimis-waste-contributors-superfund-settlements-streamlined-approach (PDF 530KB)

Methodology for Early De Minimis Waste Contributor Settlements Under CERCLA Section 122(g)(1)(A) - (6/2/92) Memorandum received concerning Methodology for early De Minimis contributer settlements under CERCLA Section 122(g)(1)(A). OSWER No. 9834.7-1c. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-early-de-minimis-waste-contributor-settlements-methodology (PDF 1006 KB)

Final Guidance on Preparing Waste-in Lists and Volumetric Rankings for Release to Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) under CERCLA (Waste-in Guidance) - (2/22/91) Provides guidance on the compilation and release of waste-in lists and volumetric rankings to help you comply with the information release requirements of CERCLA section 122 (e) and the information release and exchange policies outlined in OSWER Directive https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-preparing-waste-lists-and-volumetric-rankings-release-prps-waste-guidance (PDF 1206K)

Methodologies for Implementation of CERCLA Section 122(g)(1)(a) De Minimis Waste Contributor Settlements - (12/20/89) Designed to provide practical assistance in the evaluation and development of de minimis waste contributer settlement proposals and agreements. OSWER No. 9834.7-1B https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-de-minimis-waste-contributor-settlement-methodologies (PDF 866 K)

Guidance on Landowner Liability under Section 107(a)(1) of CERCLA, De Minimis Settlements under Section 122(g)(1)(B) of CERCLA and Settlements with Prospective Purchasers of Contaminated Property - (6/6/89) Guidance on Landowner Liability under Section 107(a)(1) of CERCLA, De Minimis Settlements under Section 122(g)(1)(B) of CERCLA and Settlements with Prospective Purchasers of Contaminated Property. OSWER No. 9835.9. Partially superseded by 5/24/95 prospective purchaser agreement policy. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-landowner-liability-under-section-107a1-cercla-de-minimis-settlements-under (PDF 2002 KB)

Interim Guidance on Settlements with De Minimis Waste Contributors under Section 122(g) of SARA - (6/19/87) Memorandum providing interim guidance for determining which PRPs qualify for treatment as de minimis waste contributors under section 122(g)(1) (A) of CERCLA. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/guidance-superfund-settlements-de-minimis-waste-contributors (PDF 83 K)

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