Can airport owners be held liable for environmental cleanup on returned properties?

Airport owners can indeed be held liable for environmental cleanup on returned properties. This liability arises from various environmental laws and regulations that impose responsibility on property owners for contaminations, regardless of whether the owner was aware of the pollution at the time of ownership.

When an airport property is returned to a government entity or transitioned to a new owner, the previous owner may still be responsible for remediating any environmental impacts associated with hazardous substances or pollutants that may have been released during their period of ownership. This is often based on the principle of strict liability, where liability is not contingent on culpability or negligence.

Additionally, federal statutes like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) reinforce this by establishing that parties responsible for the release of hazardous substances can be compelled to carry out cleanup efforts. Therefore, the airport owner's obligation to address environmental hazards is a crucial aspect of property ownership, especially in light of the potential impact on public health and safety as well as compliance with environmental regulations.