(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that the listing of an area on the National Priorities List described in 42 U.S.C. § 9605, commonly known as establishing a Superfund site, and the remedial investigations and feasibility studies undertaken following such a listing identify the presence of pollutants, hazardous substances and contaminants in the area that are not directly traceable to a particular responsible party.

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(2) The Legislative Assembly finds that ORS § 465.200 to 465.485 provide for joint and several liability among potentially responsible parties for the cleanup of Superfund sites. Because joint and several liability does not identify a potentially responsible party’s share of cleanup costs, remedial actions are often delayed as potentially responsible parties litigate each share of the liability.

(3) The Legislative Assembly declares that the state has the authority and the ability to facilitate cleanup of the submerged and submersible lands in the Willamette River Superfund site.

(4) The Legislative Assembly finds that cleanup of the submerged and submersible lands of the Willamette River, including the Superfund site, will provide benefits to the people of Oregon, to industries and to living resources, water quality, water uses, recreation, habitat protection, habitat preservation and other watershed qualities, and will provide significant economic enhancement to the State of Oregon. [2003 c.696 § 1]

468.531 and 468.533 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 468 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.