The Superfund¹ statute, while lacking an explicit provision on the subject, is a law that lends itself well to alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The nature of the disputes as well as the appearance of the same parties in many of these cases give rise to an interest among the parties in being able to maintain ongoing relationships. Also, there are features in the law itself that create practical problems that demand intensive resources in a short time.

I would like to review the features of Superfund, identify the circumstances that tend to inhibit settlement short of the courtroom door, and then describe how Clean Sites is delivering a service that is specifically designed to eliminate or reduce these apparent stumbling blocks.