Editors' Summary: In the second of a three-part series, Ms. Halper, an assisant attorney general for the state of New York, analyzes the question of land ownership, land use, and causation in the context of the state public nuisance action to remedy environmental damage. The article argues that the use of land, rather than ownership, is the key to liability in the public nuisance context, and compares this to the traditional private nuisance action. The final article in this series will discuss defenses that may be raised.