Environmental Ethics Case Study: Gatlin Oil

Gatlin Oil also seeks reimbursement for the costs of complying with the directives of the North Carolina environmental officials. These state directives required Gatlin Oil to clean up soil and groundwater contamination. Gatlin Oil argues that the federal coordinator by virtue of his position assumed responsibility for all of the cleanup. Gatlin Oil also asserts that the entire oil spill posed a substantial threat of oil reaching navigable waters. In contrast, the Coast Guard maintains that the Fund is not liable for the work performed pursuant to North Carolina
directives.