---

Reform Bill Encourages Oil Recycling, Protects Small Business

26 March 1999

Superfund Reform Bill Encourages Oil Recycling, Protects Small Business, NADA Says

    WASHINGTON, March 25 -- The National Automobile Dealers
Association today commended Representative Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-N.Y.) for
introducing legislation to protect franchised automobiles dealers from
extensive burdens and liability for sending used oil to recycling facilities.
    "Dealers can follow all the rules -- hire licensed waste haulers to take
used oil to licensed recycling facilities -- and still find themselves caught
in the Superfund liability quagmire," said NADA Chairman James A. Willingham.
"Superfund liability is an unfair price for automobile dealers to pay for
doing the environmentally responsible thing."
    The "Recycling America's Land Act" encourages used oil recycling by
providing relief to automobile dealerships and businesses that sent small
amounts of used oil to recycling facilities that were later declared Superfund
sites. Under current law, used oil generators -- service stations, automobile
dealerships and other businesses -- can be held responsible for the cost of
cleaning up Superfund sites even if they were in total compliance with the law
at the time they sent used oil to be recycled.
    Reps. James Barcia (D-Mich.), Calvin Dooley (D-Calif.) and others joined
Boehlert in introducing the bipartisan Superfund reform legislation.
    The National Automobile Dealers Association represents more than 19,500
franchised new-car and -truck dealers holding nearly 40,000 separate
franchises, domestic and import.