ABSTRACT
The benefits available to Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) in working cooperatively on the remediation of a groundwater problem are not well recognized. Most groundwater remediation is accomplished by pumping or extracting the contaminated groundwater, passing the contaminated water through some type of treatment process, and either reinjecting the ‘clean’ water or releasing the water to the sewer system. Regulatory policy should be further developed to encourage proactive cooperations among PRPs. The contaminant proportionate costs are the proportionate amount of the total cleanup costs that are due to a specific source or party. The extent to which individual parties are associated with a groundwater contamination problem often remains vague until the time of cost recovery. Both written and unwritten policies of the regulatory agencies have historically provided a disincentive for PRPs to participate. The need for technical guidance in the conduct of site investigations and cleanups is widely recognized.
