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As noted, RCRA claims depend upon an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or <br />the environment. This entails a showing of threat, and may be shown even 1fthe impact will not be <br />felt until later. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has said that RCRA is limited to situations in <br />which the potential for harm is great, but this is a fact - specific analysis that leaves room for <br />interpretation. If remedies have already been performed, RCRA. injunctions are generally not <br />available and prior costs cannot be recovered. Conversely, in at least one Seventh. Circuit case, a <br />claim for an injunction. under RCRA failed where the risk of off-site contamination would. not <br />materialize unless or until excavation was performed and there was no showing that the excavation <br />was imminent. <br />Remedies under RCRA can be any form of injunctive relief necessary to prevent ongoing <br />releases. RCRA remedies may not support clean-up of the offending site itself. <br />RCRA can reach any type of hazard-ous waste and there is no petroleum exclusion under <br />Before a citizen or any other person, such a s the City) may bring a RCRA action, notice <br />must be given to the EPA, the state and the alleged. violator. RCRA actions will not be allowed to <br />proceed. if there is already a response action underway at the instigation of the federal. or state <br />authorities. <br />RCRA allows the recovery of attorneys' fees or other costs to the prevailing party. <br />CRCLA <br />Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act <br />("'CERCLA"), 42 U. S.C. §§ 9601 to 9675, the City can pursue a cost recovery claim against owners, <br />operators or transporters who are responsible for sites or facilities from which there is a release, or a <br />threatened release, which causes the incurrence of response costs for a hazardous substance. The <br />cost recovery statute is set forth at 42 J.S.C. § 9607, The plaintiff can recover any "necessary costs <br />of response ... consistent with the national contingency plan.. "' <br />C RC A claims are available for "hazardous substances," which are defined somewhat <br />differently than RC A' "hazardous wastes.'" In some respects,. C RCLA" s. reach is broader than <br />RCRA's but in other respects C RCLA is. more limited.. A significant difference is that C RCLA <br />sloes not reach' petroleum. spills. <br />In contrast to RCRA, which is primarily a preventative statue, CERCLA is designed to <br />address situations in which harm has already occurred in addition to preventing threats. The remedy <br />in CERCLA is the first instance, cost recovery. This means that parties seek to recover sums that <br />have already been expended on the recovery. However, . courts have also coupled cost recovery <br />awards with additional relief such declaratory relief and injunctions addressing. ongoing or future <br />obligations. C RCLA does not allow recovery ofattorneys' fees for the prosecution of cost recovery <br />claims (although fees can be recovered if incurred as part of the response action itself). <br />Private cost recovery (including claims by parties such as the City) depend upon a showing <br />that the sums expended were necessary and. consistent with the National Contingency plan "'NCP "' . <br />2 <br />