ÿWPCl^ E»€´›¶ÑÙ´ p0|I‰$ÁîÝC P‚/’¥Ž<ø ƒ,B¤°RSŽÃoè&;cä(æ´ÈÊrXEõ0ºª|síÉÖ­N̦¡ªšÇºŠ"OæÖ*õ?„“TîOúE—*¨Üâqd;žè:ƒhbÂh¯^+¡òâ0²k(TËè;ÀªäÇ~ÐDmø Ö7Ïb¿èDª×Óï{Ó¦%(¥J€ê2z%VÎÇ&A¾òˉ»‹!i÷“&ïIfáPÙ—ÚæµÃ*=6,»¿¹ê?i ƒ:5‚¼Ã¾ð`ÃÜ]åŸøBÉV½q¦R0Ÿ¡°õÚÖ᧭¢*·©aÆ›`î£oÑV°]4Ie[ ,síìš^ˆ‚­Un¡ÞÉ£q,rxÔÒ±k(è«ÿ ñ躮äe5¦É˜ ¤Rê‘c‰ÎŠ%Lþ©Û1$vÑ©éïÕRcQ—Lr…ùï ­ÌÚ~ü1>I ùƒ[X…äõúû´üZ¾ÅÎÑufÕŠj¾`Y^Šš±ÌàðSÞùžÎ‰SýGûâØÇð6og ÿ¾ÔkÖ®‡‹3±·´ŽJ/›À¥Ç’ÝJ ׇ™59@@gÕç´JÛR4^™<*Md„|>\ºX±¾rí{}ŠF# ÔUENß %- 0(3w@[4›¯Y¾ 0ª 0DÁ Ñ Ö IÞ õ'Ù­õU¢@÷é7³ #¯Ó%ï‚(tq,UNå2e33°˜5UNH8H8H8H8 B–8a³8d::x<x<g÷>ù^@×WBš.EâÈF}ªI<'M'M'MÉcOç,R¡V;´W´WïWyñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[ñ[Ej^˜IBM 4039-10R Print AcceleratorIBMPCL5,È,,,,,È0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ¾qE¿qÀqÁqÊqEËqÌqÍqEÎqÏqàPÐ"úÿÿú, ú3|xÓq OÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€ð ð[[D]efendants›€objected€to€and€the€Court€granted€defendantsðð€motion€to€excludeÐ ° Ðtestimony€from€plaintiffsðð€legal€expert€that€plaintiffsðð€stated€would€have€addressed€the€elasticityÏand€breadth€of€liability€concepts€under€òòIndianaððs€environmental€lawsóó.ðð€R.2658.€(emphasis€added).Ð ˆØ ÐIf€the€jury€had€been€charged€with€deciding€the€issue€of€liability€under€the€statute,€this€testimonyÏwould€likely€have€been€relevant€to€the€issue€and€so€would€not€have€been€excluded.Ì(Z(3^ÿ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ&XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ÇÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€From€the€record,€American€Petroleum€Company€seems€to€have€been€a€distributionÐ ° Ðsubsidiary€of€Shell€Oil€Company.€ ?Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€full€text€of€the€definition€is:Ð ° Ðà  à(d)€ð ðOperatorðð,€for€purposes€of€IC€13„23,€except€as€provided€in€subsection€(e),€means€a€person:Ìà  àà ` à(1)€in€control€of;€orÌà  àà ` à(2)€having€responsibility€for€Ìà  àthe€daily€operation€of€an€underground€tank.Ìà  à(e)€ð ðOperatorðð,€for€purposes€of€IC€13„23„13,€does€not€include€a€person€who:Ìà  àà ` à(1)€does€not€participate€in€the€management€of€an€underground€storage€tank;Ìà  àà ` à(2)€is€otherwise€not€engaged€in€the:Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ à(A)€production;Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ à(B)€refining;€andÌà  àà ` àà ¸ à(C)€marketing;Ìà  àà ` àof€regulated€substances;€andÐ ø H  ú Ðà  àà ` à(3)€holds€evidence€of€ownership,€primarily€to€protect€the€ownerððs€security€interest€in€the€¼à  àà ` àtank.ÌòòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„11„2„148€(1998).€€Sub„section€(d)€has€been€unchanged€since€the€Actððs€passage€in€1987.€Ð `° ÐSub„section€(e)€was€added€to€the€Indiana€Code€in€1998.€€òòSeeóó€Pub.€L.€No.€90„1998,€ðð7,€1998€Ind.€Acts€1208.€ ëÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Apparently,€at€this€point€in€the€proceedings,€the€jury€instruction€in€question€wasÐ ° Ðidentified€as€jury€instruction€2.€€It€was€later€identified€as€#21€in€the€Courtððs€proposed€final€juryÏinstructions.€€The€Court€has€not€been€provided€with€a€numbered€copy€of€the€final€jury€instructions,Ïinstead€we€rely€on€the€trial€judgeððs€reading€of€the€instructions€to€the€jury€as€recorded€in€the€trialÏtranscript. ÏÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€It€is€not€apparent€that€under€the€procedure€adopted€in€this€case€the€judgment€on€the€common€lawÐ ° Ðclaims€was€in€a€prior€proceeding€so€as€to€invoke€collateral€estoppel€considerations.€€However,€the€partiesÏmake€no€contentions€in€this€respect.€€Accordingly,€we€do€not€address€that€point€and€express€no€opinion€on€it.€ £Ý ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€This€section€was€recodified€along€with€all€of€Indianaððs€environmental€laws€to€newÐ ° Ðsections€of€Title€13€in€1996.€€The€new€section€included€minor€language€changes,€substitutingÏð ðentitled€toðð€for€ð ðshallðð€as€found€in€the€1991€version.€òòSeeóó€òònowóó€òòInd.€Codeóó€13„23„13„8(b)€(1997Ð ˆØ ÐSupp.).Ì KÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€òòBlackððs€Law€Dictionaryóó€328€(6th€ed.€1990)€defines€contribution€as€a€ð ðright€of€one€who€hasÐ ° Ðdischarged€a€common€liability€to€recover€[from]€another€also€liable€.€.€.€.ðð 6Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€It€is€undisputed€that€the€jury€was€not€instructed€on€liability€under€the€Act.€€Nevertheless,€the€OilÐ ° ÐCompanies€argue€that€the€issue€of€control€under€the€Act€was€ð ðinherently€litigatedðð€when€the€jury€consideredÏthe€control€necessary€for€liability€under€the€theory€of€respondeat€superior€on€Count€VI.€€A€comparison€of€theÏplain€language€found€in€the€jury€instructions€and€the€Act€demonstrate€that€the€issues€of€strict€liability€in€tortÏand€liability€under€the€Act€are€neither€identical€nor€coextensive.€€The€jury€was€instructed€to€find€liability€underÏthe€doctrine€of€respondeat€superior€if€the€Oil€Companies:€Ìà  àspecifically€and€directly€control,€or€have€the€right€to€control€means€by€which€Fred€Smith€and€the€¼à  àstation€operators€conducted€their€activities€.€.€.€ððcontrolðð€depends€on€the€existence€of€an€implied€or€¼à  àexpress€contract€or€agreement€[which]€would€have€allowed€the€Defendant€to€approve€of€and€direct€¼à  àthe€specific€means€and€manner€of€performance€of€activities.€€€ÌAt€first€glance,€the€two€standards€of€control€are€not€identical.€€ð ðControlðð€in€the€jury€instruction€was€modifiedÏby€ð ðspecifically€and€directly.ðð€€ð ðControlðð€in€the€Act€is€not€so€modified.€€This€difference€is€significant€enoughÏto€allow€the€trial€court€to€conclude€the€jury€had€not€ð ðinherentlyðð€considered€the€Actððs€lesser€version€of€controlÏwhen€deciding€the€strict€liability€claim.€ ßÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Some€states€have€adopted€more€detailed€definitions€of€ð ðthe€daily€operationsðð€of€the€UST›,€othersÐ ° Ðexplicitly€exclude€particular€tasks€or€persons.€€òòCompareòòóó€óó€òòN.€H.€Rev.€Stat.€Annóó.€ch.€146„œC:1›,€XIII€(1996)Ð ˆØ Ð(ð ðresponsibility€for€the€care,€custody€and€control€of€the€daily€operation€.€.€.ðð)òò;€Utah€Code€Annóó.€ðð€19„6„Ð `° Ð402(17)€(1998)€(ð ðany€person€in€control€of€or€who€is€responsible€on€a€daily€basis€for€theòò€maintenanceóó€of€anÐ 8ˆ Ðunderground€storage€tank€.€.€œ.ðð€(emphasis›€œadded)›€òòwithóó€òòN.€C.€Gen.€Stat.€ðð€143„215.77(5)€(1997)óó€(excludingÐ ` Ðfrom€the€definition€of€ð ðhaving€control€over€oil€or€other€hazardous€substancesðð€(including€petroleum)€thoseÏwho€supply€or€deliver€to€a€œUST›€that€is€not€owned€or€otherwise€operated€by€that€person€unless€he€or€she€hasÏreason€to€know€of€leak)òò;€œKan›.€Stat.€Annóó.€ðð€65„34,102(I)€(1992)€(excluding€from€the€definition€of€operatorÐ ˜ è Ðthose€who€fill€the€tank€without€pumping€gasoline€from€the€tank). ©Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€›The€Landowners€assert€the€testimony€of€individuals€at€the€Senate€subcommittee€hearings€on€theÐ ° Ðbill€as€evidence€of€lawmakersðð€intent€to€include€the€Oil€Companies€as€operators€under€the€Act.€€TheÏcomments€of€€individual€speakers€or€members€of€Congress€are€not€necessarily€reflective€of€the€views€of€theÏentire€Congress€unless€expressed€in€the€language€of€the€legislation.€€The€Conference€Committee€report,€whichÏis€more€persuasive€as€evidence€of€legislative€intent,€offers€no€insight€on€the€scope€of€the€definition€ofÏoperator.œ ¥Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ &XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€Landowners€assert€the€testimony€of€individuals€at€the€Senate€subcommittee€hearings€on€theÐ ° Ðbill€as€evidence€of€lawmakers€intent€to€include€the€Oil€Companies€as€operators€under€the€Act.€€We€do€not€findÏthe€comments€of€€individual€speakers€or€members€of€Congress€to€be€indicative€of€the€intent€of€the€entireÏCongress€unless€expressed€in€the€language€of€the€legislation.€€The€Conference€Committee€report,€which€isÏmore€persuasive€as€evidence€of€legislative€intent,€offers€no€insight€on€the€scope€of€the€definition€of€operator. åÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú19Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Derivative€liability€under€CERCLA›€has€looked€to€the€common€law€for€guidance.€€ð ð[C]ommon€lawÐ ° Ðprinciples€of€liability€provide€a€legitimate€source€of€insight€in€resolving€[liability€under€CERCLA].ðð€€òòUnitedÐ ˆØ ÐStates€v.€ACETO€Agricultural€Chemicals€Corp.óó,€699€œF.€Supp.›€1384,€1390€(S.D.€œIowa›€1988)€(where€statutoryÐ `° Ðlanguage€and€legislative€history€are€inconclusive€and€the€legislative€history€shows€that€the€common€law€wasÏintended€to€fill€such€gaps,€the€common€law€is€a€proper€source€of€guidance);€òòaffððdóó,€òòUnited€States€v.€ACETOÐ ` ÐAgricultural€Chemicals€Corpóó.,€872€F.2d€1373,€1382„83€(8th€Cir.€1989)(Common€law€provides€guidance€inÐ è8 Ðinterpreting€CERCLA€and€supports€the€imposition€of€liability.€€CERCLA,€like€RCRA,€is€a€broad€remedialÏstatute.). jÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Beginning€in€1992,€Indianaððs€rules€require€owners€and€operators€to€report€all€suspected€releases,Ð ° Ðmaintain€documentation€of€corrosion€protection€equipment,€system€repairs,€compliance€with€release€detectionÏand€keep€records€required€available€for€inspection€at€the€UST›€site€or€readily€available€site.€€329€òòInd.€œAdmin›.Ð `° ÐCodeóó€9„3„1€(1996).€€Indianaððs€rules€also€require€compliance€with€federal€rules€for€release€detection€under€40Ð 8ˆ ÐœC.F.R.›€ðð€280.41,€and€testing€and€monitoring€under€42€U.S.C.€ðð€6991(d).€€329òò€Ind.€œAdmin›.€Codeóó€9„2„2Ð ` Ð(1996).€€Tanks€must€be€monitored€at€least€every€30€days€with€one€of€the€agency€approved€methods€under€40ÏœC.F.R.›€ðð€280.41€(1997).€€Federal€rules€also€require€record€keeping€of€all€testing,€monitoring,€calibration,Ïmaintenance€and€repair.€40€œC.F.R.›€ðð€280.45€(1997).€€Owners€and€operators€also€must€furnish€informationÏabout€testing€and€monitoring€to€a€representative€of€the€EPA€and€permit€representatives€to€enter,€inspect,€takeÏsamples€and€or€corrective€action.€42€U.S.C.€ðð€œ6991d›(a)€œ(1994€&€Supp.€II€1996).›€€Finally,€owners€andÏoperators€must€establish€evidence€of€financial€responsibility€with€minimum€coverage€of€at€least€$1,000,000Ïfor€each€occurrence.€€òòInd.€Code€ððððóó€œ13„23„4„1€to€7›€(1998).€€No€one€contends€that€the€Oil€Companies€wouldÐ ø H  Ðbe€required€to€comply€with€these€regulations€if€the€œUSTs›€were€still€in€operation.€€(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular [Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€in€the€Act€is€identical€to€the€definition€of€the€same€term€in€RCRA,€42Ð ° ÐU.S.C.€ðð€6991(4)€(1994€&€Supp.€II€1996)€and€EPA€regulations€promulgated€pursuant€to€RCRA.€€40€C.F.R.€ððÏ280.12€(1997).€€The€CERCLA€definition€is€unusually€unhelpful,€tautologically€defining€an€ð ðoperatorðð€as€anyÏperson€ð ðoperating,ðð€or€who€ð ðoperated,ðð€a€facility.€€òòSeeóó€42€U.S.C.€ðð€9601(20)(A)€(1994€&€Supp.€II€1996). ¦Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€Landowners€assert€the€testimony€of€individuals€at€the€Senate€subcommittee€hearings€on€theÐ ° Ðbill€as€evidence€of€lawmakersðð€intent€to€include€the€Oil€Companies€as€operators€under€the€Act.€€TheÏcomments€of€€individual€speakers€or€members€of€Congress€are€not€reasonably€reflective€of€the€views€of€theÏentire€Congress€unless€expressed€in€the€language€of€the€legislation.€€The€Conference€Committee€report,€whichÏis€more€persuasive€as€evidence€of€legislative€intent,€offers€no€insight€on€the€scope€of€the€definition€ofÏoperator.(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular d WÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ýòò€€óóPub.€L.€No.€172„1987,€1987€Ind.€Acts€2160„72;€òòseeóó€òònowóó€òòInd.€Code€ððððóó€13„23„1€to€13„23„15Ð ° Ð(1998)€(formerly€codified€at€òòId.óó€ðððð€13„7„20€to€13„7„42€(1993)). ZÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Pub.€L.€No.€129„1991,€ðð€8,€1991€Ind.€Acts€2126„27.€€The€1991€amended€version€was€recodifiedÐ ° Ðalong€with€all€of€Indianaððs€environmental€laws€to€new€sections€of€Title€13€in€1996.€€Pub.€L.€No.€1„1996,€ðð€13,Ï1996€Ind.€Acts€370„402.€€The€new€section€included€minor€language€changes,€substituting€ð ðentitled€toðð€forÏð ðshallðð€as€found€in€the€1991€version.€€€òòSeeóó€òònowóó€òòInd.€Code€ððóó€13„23„13„8(b)€(1998).Ð 8ˆ Ð uÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ &XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú23Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€We€are€mindful€that€the€jury€rejected€the€common€law€claims€against€the€Oil€Companies.€€No€issueÐ ° Ðis€raised€as€to€any€of€the€relevant€instructions€and€we€express€no€opinion€on€them.€€As€explained€òòsupraóó€Part€I,Ð ˆØ Ðthe€Oil€Companies€contend€the€juryððs€result€was€necessarily€based€on€a€finding€of€lack€of€control.€€That€is€atÏleast€a€possible€rationale,€and€if€correct,€the€juryððs€finding€is€not€inconsistent€with€derivative€liability€underÏthe€Act.€€€ ]Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€òòSeeóó€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„11„2„152,€(1998)€(parties);€òòId.óó€ðð€13„11„2„153€(party);€òòId.óó€ðð€13„11„2„191Ð ° Ð(responsible€party);€and€òòId.óó€ðð€13„11„2„192€(responsible€person).€ ïÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ &XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú20Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Smith€wore€two€hats€„„€one€as€owner€of€the€station€he€leased€to€others€and€the€second€as€theÐ ° Ðcommissioned€driver€who€supplied€the€station.€€Neither€party€suggests€that€Smithððs€actions€in€maintaining€theÏtanks€and€pumps€were€performed€solely€in€his€capacity€as€owner€of€the€tanks€rather€than€a€part€of€his€dutiesÏas€the€commissioned€driver.€Ì ÍÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Indiana€Code€ðð€13„11„2„158(d)€states€ð ðððPersonðð€for€purposes€of€IC€13„23,€has€the€meaning€setÐ ° Ðforth€in€subsection€(a).ðð€€Subsection€(a)€defines€ð ðpersonðð€as€ð ðan€individual,€a€partnership,€a€copartnership,€aÏfirm,€a€company,€a€corporation,€an€association,€a€joint€stock€company,€a€trust,€an€estate,€a€municipal€schoolÏcorporation,€a€city,€a€school€city,€a€town,€a€school€town,€a€school€district,€a€school€corporation,€a€county,€anyÏconsolidated€unit€of€government,€political€subdivision,€state€agency,€a€contractor,€or€any€other€legal€entity.ðð Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€42€U.S.C.€ðð€7545(n)€(1994).€€EPA€rules€impose€a€fine€of€up€to€$25,000€per€day€on€refiners€for€theÐ ° Ðdispensing€of€any€leaded€gasoline€at€any€branded€station,€whether€owned€or€operated€by€the€refiner€or€not.€€40ÏC.F.R.€ðððð€80.5€&€80.22€(1997). ØÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ &XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú24Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Although€not€part€of€the€record€in€this€case,€we€note€that,€according€to€a€Congressional€ResearchÐ ° ÐService€report€presented€to€Congress€at€the€time€it€was€considering€the€UST€legislation,€ð ð[i]n€the€Great€LakesÏregion,€a€typical€tank€may€begin€to€leak€within€seven€years€of€installation.ðð€€Donald€V.€Feliciano,€ð ðLeakingÏUnderground€Storage€Tanks:€a€Potential€Environmental€Problem,ðð€Congressional€Record,€February€29,€1984,Ïpp.€S2026„S2030,€òòreprinted€inóó€òòA€Legislative€History€of€the€Solid€Waste€Disposal€Act€As€Amended,óóÐ ` Ðat€2144€(1991). sÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú18Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€ð ðLaw€is€the€province€of€the€judiciary,€and€courts€rather€than€administrative€agencies€are€chargedÐ ° Ðwith€the€responsibility€to€resolve€questions€of€statutory€construction.ðð€€òòIndiana€Depððt€of€Natural€Resources€v.Ð ˆØ ÐTown€of€Syracuseóó,€686€N.E.2d€410,€411€(Ind.€Ct.€App.€1997)€(citing€òòMance€v.€Board€of€Dirs.€of€Pub.Ð `° ÐEmployees€Retirement€Fundóó,€652€N.E.2d€532,€534€(Ind.€Ct.€App.€1995)).€€òòSeeóó€òòalsoóó€òòTwin€States€PublishingÐ 8ˆ ÐCo.€v.€Indiana€Unemployment€Ins.€Bd.óó,€678€N.E.2d€110,€112€(Ind.€Ct.€App.€1997)€òòtrans.óó€òòdeniedóó€690€N.E.2dÐ ` Ð1181€(Ind.€1997)€(agency€interpretation€of€the€statute€is€not€entitled€to€deference). 2Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ &XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú22Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Bill€Murphy€testified€that€the€liability€insurance€for€the€bulk€plant€would€have€covered€Smith€in€theÐ ° Ðcase€of€an€accident€while€driving€the€tank€truck.€€The€record€is€unclear€as€to€why€Mr.€Murphy€insured€againstÏvicarious€liability€for€his€independent€contractorððs€actions.€€The€record€provides€no€evidence€one€way€orÏanother€of€the€insurance€situation€pre„1963€when€Smith€was€Shellððs€commissioned€driver. ¿Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€federal€UST›€Act€was€amended€in€1996€to€exclude€from€the€definitions€of€ð ðownerðð€andÐ ° Ðð ðoperatorðð€one€who€ð ðwithout€participating€in€the€management€of€an€underground€storage€tank€and€otherwiseÏnot€engaged€in€petroleum€production,€refining,€marketing,€holds€indicia€of€ownership€primarily€to€protect€theÏownerððs€security€interest€in€the€tank.ðð€€Pub.€L.€No.€104„208,€ðð€2503,€110€Stat€3009„468,€(codified€asÏamended€at€42€U.S.C.€ðð€œ6991b›(h)(9)€(1994€&€œSupp›.€II€œ1996));€€òòseeóó›€òòalsoóó€40€œC.F.R.›€ðð€280.200€(1997). ÝÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€phrase€ð ðdaily€operationðð€is€used€in€three€other€statutes:€the€Deputy€Commissioner€shallÐ ° Ðsupervise€the€daily€operation€of€the€Agriculture€and€Rural€Development€Commission,€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€4„4„22„20Ð ˆØ Ð(1998);€schools€may€not€use€capital€funds€proceeds€for€the€daily€operation€of€the€school,€òòId.óóòò€óóðð€21„2„1„4;€andÐ `° ÐRegulated€Amusement€Devices€permittee€must€maintain€daily€operation€and€inspection€logs€or€checklists,€òòId.óóÐ 8ˆ Ððð€22„15„7„5.€€None€of€the€statutes€define€daily€operation,€however€each€includes€distinct€activities€dependingÏon€what€is€being€operated.€€In€the€case€of€underground€storage€tanks,€at€least€before€1984,€there€are€a€limitedÏnumber€of€activities€associated€with€the€tank€including€filling,€testing€and€dispensing€from€the€tank. —Ý ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XÅ[XXXÔÔ€&lÏ &XXÅ[Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú21Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Shell€also€argues€that€Smith€acted€as€a€jobber.€€We€find€no€record€evidence€to€support€thisÐ ° Ðconclusion€and€the€trial€court€made€no€finding€as€to€it.€€The€evidence€appears€to€contradict€it.€€For€example,ÏShell€retained€title€to€the€gasoline€Smith€delivered. 1ØØÑ#€çXÿÿd#Ñ øÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€From€1946€to€1955,€Smith€was€a€driver€for€Shell€American€Petroleum€Company,€a€petroleumÐ ° Ðdistribution€company€that,€according€to€the€record,€served€northern€Indiana€and€perhaps€other€areas.€ÏAccording€to€the€Joint€Stipulation€of€Facts,€Shell€American€Petroleum€Company€merged€into€Shell€OilÏCompany€in€1955.€€The€record€does€not€disclose€the€state€of€domicile€of€either€corporation€as€of€1955.€ÏHowever,€under€the€laws€of€this€and€other€states,€a€surviving€corporation€acquires€ð ðall€liabilities€of€eachÏcorporation€party€to€the€merger.ððòò€Ind.€Codeóó€ðð€23„1„40„6(a)(3)€(1998);€òòaccordóó€òòDel.€Code€Ann.óó€tit.€8,€ðð€259€Ð è8 Ð(Michie›€1991).€€The€parties€have€raised€no€issue€related€to€the€status€of€Shell€Oil€and€Shell€American,€andÏShell€Oil€has€not€disputed€its€assumption€of€any€liability€that€Shell€American€may€have€incurred. oÝ ƒ ^ÿ$ÝÔ€XTXXXÔÔ€&¬ç &XXTÔà  àòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€ð ðOperatorðð€for€purposes€of€IC€13„23„13,€does€not€include€a€person€who:€(1)€does€not€participate€inÐ ° Ðà  àthe€management€of€an€underground€storage€tank;€(2)€is€otherwise€not€engaged€in€the:€(A)€production;Ïà  à(B)€refining;€and€(C)€marketing;€of€a€regulated€substance;€and€(3)€holds€evidence€of€ownership,€¼à  àprimarily€to€protect€the€ownerððs€security€interest€in€the€tank.€€òòÐ 8ˆ ÐInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„11„2„148(e)€(1998).€€Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ݛԇˆÇˆXXÔÑ  ÑÒ(X°(#°(#(ÒÑ7€TXXd슊dü7ÑÑ€1µFÑATTORNEYS€FOR€APPELLANTSÐ ° ÐÌKarl€L.€MulvaneyÌNana€Quay„Smith€€€€€ÌLarry€J.€KaneÌPhil€L.€IsenbargerÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌJames€A.€KnauerÌGregory€P.€CafourosÌMarcia€E.€RoanÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌRandall€VonderheideÌSteven€R.€KnechtÌLafayette,€IndianaÌÌATTORNEYS€FOR€AMICI€CURIAE:ÌÌRobert€S.€BassmanÌAlphonse€M.€AlfanoÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ `° ÐG.€William€FrickÌM.€Elizabeth€CoxÌThomas€Sayre€LlewellynÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ+#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ T¤ ÐAmerican€Petroleum€InstituteÌIndiana€Oil€Marketers€AssociationÔ#†XTXˆˆǺ#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ Lœ ÐWashington,€DCÌÌFrank€C.€CapozzaÌAmerican€Petroleum€InstituteÌIndiana€Oil€Marketers€AssociationÔ#†XTXˆˆÇO#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ 8"ˆ ÐIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔLewis€E.€Willis,€Jr.Ð ,%| ! ÐIndiana€Oil€Marketers€AssociationÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÔ#†XTXˆˆÇs#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ $'t"# ÐÌÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÌÌÌÌÐ  -\() ÐATTORNEYS€FOR€APPELLEESÌÌRobert€M.€Baker€IIIÌThomas€A.€Barnard€€ÌœMelina›€œManiatis›€Kennedy€€€€€€€€ÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌPeter€M.€Racher€€€€€€€€ÌJeffrey€D.€Featherstun€ÌThomas€A.€JohnÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌATTORNEYS€FOR€AMICI€CURIAE:ÌÌJeffrey€A.€ModisettÌAttorney€General€of€IndianaÌJon€LaramoreÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌThomas€J.€MillerÌAttorney€General€of€IowaÔ#†XTXˆˆÇm#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ `°= ÐDean€A.€LernerÌDes€Moines,€IowaÌÌWinston€BryantÌAttorney€General€of€ArkansasÌLittle€Rock,€ArkansasÌÌM.€Jane€BradyÌDelaware€Attorney€GeneralÌWilmington,€DelawareÌÌGrant€WoodsÌAttorney€General€of€ArizonaÌPhoenix,€ArizonaÌÌÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ4#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔPeter€LehnerÐ  (p#M ÐErik€OlsonÌWilliam€E.€DornbosÌNatural€Resources€Defense€Council,€Inc.ÌNew€York,€New€YorkÔ#†XTXˆˆÇg#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ ,`'Q ÐÐ -\(R ЇDimitri€G.€DaskalÌNational€Coalition€of€PetroleumÏRetailersÌAnnapolis,€MarylandÌÌMark€R.€WaterfillÌNational€Coalition€of€PetroleumÏRetailersÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌEric€L.€MayerÌMax€GoodwinÌHoosier€Environmental€CouncilÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌSue€A.€BeesleyÌSheila€M.€OððBryanÌCity€of€IndianapolisÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌJane€A.€SeigelÌIndiana€Association€of€Cities€and€TownsÌIndianapolis,€IndianaÌÌFrank€ShafrothÌNational€League€of€CitiesÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ" #ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ Lœ ÐWashington,€DCÌÌPeter€GunstÌService€Station€Dealers€of€AmericaÌBaltimore,€MarylandÔ#†XTXˆˆÇM #ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ 8"ˆ ÐÔ#†XTXˆˆÇö #ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ  -\() ÐGus€F.€DiazÌActing€Attorney€General€of€GuamÌAgana,€GuamÔ#†XTXˆˆÇM #ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ ¨ø+ ÐÌMargery€S.€BronsterÌAttorney€General€of€HawaiiÌHonolulu,€HawaiiÌÌHubert€H.€Humphrey€IIIÌAttorney€General€of€MinnesotaÌSt.€Paul,€MinnesotaÌÌDennis€C.€VaccoÌAttorney€General€of€New€YorkÌAlbany,€New€YorkÌÌWilliam€H.€SorrellÌAttorney€General€of€VermontÌMontpelier,€VermontÌÌJames€E.€RyanÌAttorney€General€of€IllinoisÌChicago,€IllinoisÌÌTom€UdallÌNew€Mexico€Attorney€GeneralÌSanta€Fe,€New€MexicoÌÌJan€GrahamÌUtah€Attorney€GeneralÌSalt€Lake€City,€UtahÌÌRichard€BlumenthalÌAttorney€General€of€ConnecticutÌHartford,€ConnecticutÌÌÌÌÔ#†XTXˆˆÇå #ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ *h%O ÐÔ#†XTXˆˆÇH#ÔÓ  ÓÑ7€TXXdìXXdì7ÑÒ(X°À°À(ÒÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔßA€E) °°xdE°¯xAßÐ ° ÐÌÓ<(° ` Àp Ð €%0*à.3@8ð<°œX<Óò òÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ #ÔÔ‡„)Ž„XXTÔà@ää'ìàIN€THEˆÐ »  ÐÌà@  ìàSUPREME€COURT€OF€INDIANAÔ#†XTX„„)Žã#ÔÔ‡»^p»XXTԈР{Ë ÐÓ<(° ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ °` ‹°<Óó óÌßA€E) °°xdE°î xAßÐ ï ? ÐÔ#†XTX»»^p~#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÌSHELL€OIL€COMPANY,€€€€€€€à h àà À à)Ð ú J ÐUNION€OIL€COMPANY,à  àà h àà À à)Ð ö F  Ðà0  àAppellants/Cross€Appellees,€à À à)à  àSupreme€CourtÐò B (#(# Ðà0  à(Defendants€Below)à0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à)à  àCause€No.€79S04„9801„CV„043Ðî> À(#À(# Ðà0  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ð (#(# Ðà  àv.à0 ` àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà À à)à  àÐæ6 h(#h(# Ѐà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à)à  àÐâ2 À(#À(# ÐRICHARD€AND€KIM€MEYER,€à h àà À à)Ð Þ. ÐGARY€AND€BRIDGET€MCDANIEL,à À à)Ð Ú* ÐJIM€AND€TERRI€MCDONALD,à h àà À à)à  àCourt€of€AppealsÔ#†XTXˆˆÇl#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ Ö& ÐDAN€AND€VIVIAN€MCDANIEL,à À à)à  àCause€No.€79A04„9512„CV„470Ô#†XTXˆˆÇ”#ÔÔ‡ˆÇˆXXTÔÐ Ò" ÐALVIN€AND€VERNA€MAE€CASAD€à À à)Ð Î Ðand€HELENA€BYERS,à  à€€€€à h àà0 À à)à  àÐÊÀ(#À(# Ðà0  àœAppellee/Cross›€Appellantsà h à)ÐÆ(#(# Ðà  à(Plaintiffs€Below).à  àà h àà À à)à  àÐ Â ÐÌ‚ßA€E) °°xdE°¹xAßÐ º  ÐÌà@Æ Æ ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€TIPPECANOE€SUPERIOR€COURTˆÌà@Ö Ö ìàThe€Honorable€Donald€C.€Johnson,€JudgeˆÌà@||ìàCause€No.€79D01„9305„CP„118ˆÌÌ‚ßA€E) °°xdE°´ xAßÐ µ  ÐÌà@ìàò òON€PETITION€TO€TRANSFERó óˆÐ À!  ÐÌßA€E) °°xdE°»#xAßÐ ¼# " ÐÌÓ  Óò òDecember€œñÍqñ23ñÍqññÎqñ30ñÎqñ,›€1998ó óÐ Ç$ $ ÐÔ#†XTXˆˆÇ7#ÔÓ¹ÓÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÓÓœBOEHM›,€Justice.Ð Ç%!% ÐÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ<#ÔÓ[ÓÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÓÓà  àThis€case€deals€with€the€liability€of€refiners€under€Indianaððs€Underground€StorageÐ ¿'#' ÐTank€Act€(the€ð ðActðð)Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÌ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€for€costs€of€corrective€actions€for€leaks€in€tanks€at€retail€gasolineÐ ·)%) Ðstations€owned€by€independent€retailers.€€Specifically€œthe€principal›€issue€presented€is€underÏwhat€circumstances€a€major€oil€company€is€an€ð ðoperatorðð€of€underground€storage€tanksÐ §-÷(- ÐÑ1µFÑØØÑ7€TXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑñÍqñÑ1µFÑØØÑ7€TXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑ1µFÑØØÑ7€TXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑñÍqñlocated€at€an€independent€station€that€bears€its€brand.€€The€term€ð ðoperatorðð€is€defined€in€theÏAct€to€mean€persons€ð ðin€control€of€or€having€responsibility€for€the€daily€operationðð€of€a€tank.€ÏòòInd.€Code€ðð€óó13„11„2„148€(1998).€€We€hold€that€a€refiner,€such€as€the€defendants€Shell€OilÐ  ð ÐCompany€(ð ðShellðð)€and€Union€Oil€Company€of€California€(ð ðUnocalðð),€is€not€an€operator€ofÏan€independent€station€bearing€its€brand€merely€because€the€refinerððs€brand€creates€practicalÏleverage€over€the€stationððs€owner€or€operator.€€However,€under€the€facts€of€this€case€weÏaffirm€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Shell€was€an€operator€until€1963.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ°#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ €Ð  ÐÌò òÓ  ÓFactual€and€Procedural€Backgroundó óÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ"#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ pÀ ÐÓ8"Óœà  àA.›€òòThe€ProblemóóÐ pÀ Ðà  àThe€plaintiffs€in€the€case€are€œsix›€families€who€own€or€live€in€houses€in€West€Point,Ïa€town€in€Tippecanoe€County.€€There€is€no€municipal€drinking€water€system€in€West€PointÏand€all€of€the€families€rely€on€groundwaterÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ‹"#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ.€€The€first€indication€of€a€problem€with€the€waterÐ X¨ Ðsupply€appeared€in€February€or€March€of€1989Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ$#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€when€plaintiff€Kimberly€Meyer€noticed€thatÐ P  Ðthe€tap€water€in€her€home€smelled€of€petroleum.€€She€notified€the€Tippecanoe€County€HealthÏDepartment,€œwhich›€alerted€the€Indiana€Department€of€Environmental€ManagementÏ(ð ðIDEMðð).€€In€June€1989,€laboratory€tests€of€water€from€the€Meyer€residence€detected€aÏnumber€of€contaminants,€including€benzene,€a€known€carcinogen.€€IDEM€installed€a€carbonÏfilter€on€the€Meyersðð€well€in€late€July€1989€to€make€the€water€safe€to€use.€€Over€the€courseÏof€the€next€year,€carbon€filters€were€installed€on€the€wells€of€each€of€the€œsix›€families.€ÏEnvironmental€testing€eventually€concluded€that€gasoline€from€a€retail€station€on€theÐ ,h'( Ðnorthwest€corner€of€Washington€and€Main€streets€in€West€Point€was€the€source€of€theÏgroundwater€contamination.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÅ$#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ ¨ø ÐœÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ;(#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔà  àB.›€€òòA€Brief€History€of€the€West€Point€StationóóÐ  ð Ðà  à€Fred€Smith€purchased€the€station€in€West€Point€in€1946.€€At€that€time€it€was€changedÏfrom€a€Standard€brand€station€to€Shell€and€assumed€the€conventional€appearance€of€a€ShellÏstation.€€At€the€time€Smith€bought€the€station,€his€principal€occupation€was€as€aÏð ðcommissioned€agentðð€or€ð ðcommissioned€driverðð€for€Shell.œ×ƒ3×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ“(#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€In€this€capacity,€Smith€deliveredÐ €Ð  Ðgasoline€from€Shellððs€bulk€plant€in€Lafayette€to€farmers€and€to€the€West€Point€station€and€toÏone€other€that€he€owned.€€As€a€ð ðcommissioned€driverðð€Smith€had€a€desk€at€the€bulk€plantÏwhere€he€picked€up€orders.€€He€owned€the€truck,€but€Shell€owned€the€tank€on€the€back€of€theÏtruck.€€Shell€owned€the€gasoline€Smith€delivered€and€retained€title€to€it€until€payment€wasÏremitted€by€the€purchaser€to€Shell.€€Ìà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠÆÑ*#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔIn€1963,€Murphy€Enterprises€(ð ðMurphyðð),€owned€by€Bill€Murphy,€bought€theÐ P  ÐLafayette€bulk€plant€from€Shell€and€became€a€ð ðjobberðð€for€Shell.€€At€this€point,€SmithÏbecame€a€commissioned€driver€for€Murphy€and€Murphy€took€ownership€of€the€tank€on€theÏback€of€Smithððs€truck.€€Murphy€purchased€product€from€Shell€and€stored€it€at€the€bulk€plant.€Ð 8"ˆ ÐIn€1971,€Murphy€changed€suppliers€from€Shell€to€Unocal.€€At€that€time,€Murphy€entered€intoÏa€written€contract€with€Unocal,€apparently€the€first€written€agreement€documenting€any€ofÏthese€arrangements.€€Murphyððs€affiliation€with€Unocal€ended€in€1980€when€the€bulk€plantÏwas€sold.€€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆô,#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ ˜ è Ðà  àAlthough€Smith€owned€the€West€Point€station,€he€never€managed€it.€€Over€the€yearsÏhe€had€oral€arrangements€with€a€number€of€ð ðlesseesðð€who€typically€operated€combinationÏgasoline€stations€and€automotive€service€shops.€€These€arrangements€were€informal€and€fewÏlasted€more€than€a€year€or€two.€€The€lessee/station€manager€typically€paid€the€bulk€plantÏdirectly€for€the€gasoline€Smith€delivered€to€it.€€However€at€least€one€of€Smithððs€lessees€paidÏhim€for€the€gasoline€at€the€time€of€delivery.€€In€these€ð ðleasesðð€Smithððs€ð ðrentðð€was€based€onÏthe€volume€of€gasoline€sold€by€the€station€(ð ðso€many€cents€per€gallonðð).€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÜ/#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ `° Ðà  àFred€Smith€distributed€gasoline€from€the€bulk€plant€until€his€death€in€1979.€€His€wife,ÏMargaret€Smith,€continued€to€own€the€West€Point€gasoline€station€until€1981€when€it€wasÏsold€to€Robert€Van€Meter.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ¿2#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆë3#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€The€site€was€not€operated€as€a€gasoline€station€after€1981€andÐ H˜ ÐVan€Meter€removed€the€underground€storage€tanks€from€the€ground€in€October€1989.€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ.4#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ5#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔAt€theÐ @  Ðtime€the€Landowners€filed€suit€in€1993,€the€property€was€still€owned€by€Van€Meter€andÏhoused€Vanððs€Wholesale€Auto€Body€Shop.€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆX5#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ56#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ 0$€  ÐœÔ#†XTXŠŠÆx6#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔà  àC.›€òòThe€Statutory€BackgroundóóÐ (&x!" Ðà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠÆÐ6#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔThe€General€Assembly€passed€the€Indiana€Underground€Storage€Tank€Actœ×ƒ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€in€1987.€Ð  (p#$ ÐThe€Act€generally€provides€for€the€regulation€of€underground€storage€tanks€(ð ðUSTsðð)€and€theÏprevention€and€remediation€of€pollution€from€tanks.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆa7#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔIt€contains€specific€provisions€designedÐ ¨ø Ðto€correct€contamination€from€leaking€underground€storage€tanks€(ð ðLUSTsðð).€€TheseÏð ðcorrective€actionðð€provisions€are€quite€similar€to€provisions€of€the€ComprehensiveÏEnvironmental€Response,€Compensation€and€Liability€Act€œ(CERCLA),€42€U.S.C.€ðððð€9601Ïto€9675€(1994€&€Supp.€II€1996)Ô#†XTXŠŠÆò8#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ,›€designed€to€clean€up€hazardous€waste.€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ›:#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€The€Act€gives€IDEMÐ ˆØ  Ðauthority€to€promulgate€rules€to€enforce€its€provisions,€including€the€ability€to€require€ownersÏand€operators€of€underground€storage€tanks€to€take€corrective€action.€òò€Ind.€Codeóó€ðððð€13„23„1„Ð xÈ  Ð2€&€13„23„13„1€(1998).€€Indianaððs€Act€has€some€provisions€not€commonly€found€in€theÏstatutes€of€the€45€states€that€have€underground€storage€tank€legislation.€€One€significantÏdifference€is€that€Indianaððs€law€does€not€limit€the€ability€to€seek€corrective€action€to€the€stateÏdepartment€of€environmental€management.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ;#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔRather,€the€Act€includes€a€provision€for€recoveryÐ X¨ Ðof€corrective€action€costs€and€attorneys€fees€by€a€private€party€who€successfully€prosecutesÏa€claim€against€an€owner€or€operator.€€òòId.óó€ðð€13„23„13„8.Ð H˜ Ðà  àUnlike€the€corrective€action€provisions,€the€regulatory€provisions€in€Indianaððs€Act€areÏloosely€based€on€the€federal€Resource€Conservation€and€Recovery€Act€(ð ðRCRAðð)Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ=#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ.€€42€U.S.C.Ð 8"ˆ Ððððð€6901€to€œ6992k›€(1994€&€Supp.€II€1996).Ô#†XTXŠŠƃ?#Ô€Ô‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ@#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔRCRA€was€first€enacted€by€Congress€in€1978€asÐ 0$€  Ðan€amendment€to€the€Solid€Waste€Disposal€Act.€€Provisions€specifically€dealing€withÏpetroleum€storage€were€added€in€1984.€€RCRA€provides€a€comprehensive€regulatory€schemeÏgoverning€the€treatment,€storage€and€disposal€of€solid€and€hazardous€wastes.€€IndianaððsÔ#†XTXŠŠÆZ@#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€ActÐ *h%& Ðcontains€a€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€identical€to€the€one€found€in€RCRA€and€in€the€UST€lawsÐ ,`'( Ðof€some€other€states.€€The€Actððs€provision€governing€liability€for€costs,€however€is€unlikeÏRCRAððs€citizen€suit€provision.€€RCRA€allows€suits€against€a€past€or€present€ð ðgenerator,ððÏð ðownerðð€or€ð ðoperatorðð€only€where€the€release€presents€ð ðan€imminent€and€substantialÏendangerment€to€health€or€the€environment.ðð€42€U.S.C.€ðð€6972€(a)(1)(B)€(1994€&€Supp.€IIÏ1996).€€Once€a€site€has€been€cleaned€up,€private€parties€may€not€recover€costs€from€ownersÏor€operators€under€RCRA.€€òòSeeóó€òòMeghrig€v.€KFC€Western,€Inc.óó,€516€U.S.€479,€116€S.€Ct.Ð ˆØ  Ð1251,€134€L.€Ed.€2d€121€(1996).€€In€contrast,€Indianaððs€law€expressly€anticipates€paymentÏof€costs€by€owners€and€operators€before€or€after€cleanup.€€òòSeeóó€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„23„13„8(b)Ð xÈ  Ð(1998).ÌœÔ#†XTXŠŠÆãA#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔà  àD.›€òòProceedings€in€this€LawsuitóóÔ#†XTXŠŠÆæE#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ h¸ Ðà  àRichard€and€Kim€Meyer,€Gary€and€Bridget€McDaniel,€Jim€and€Terri€McDonald,€DanÏand€Vivian€McDaniel,€Alvin€and€Verna€Mae€Casad€and€Helena€Byers€(collectively,€theÏð ðLandownersðð)€sued€Shell€and€Unocal,€(together,€the€ð ðOil€Companiesðð)€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆYF#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔasserting€bothÐ P  Ðcommon€law€claims€and€claims€under€the€Act€for€groundwater€contamination€resulting€fromÏpetroleum€leaking€from€the€USTs€located€at€the€West€Point€gasoline€station.€€They€also€suedÏVan€Meter€and€Margaret€Smith,€but€dismissed€them€before€trial.€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ®G#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€The€parties€agreed€to€anÐ 8"ˆ Ðunusual€procedure€in€which€they€tried€the€five€common€law€claims€to€a€jury€but€reserved€theÏremaining€claim€under€the€Act€to€a€bench€decision.€€The€jury€returned€a€verdict€in€favor€ofÏthe€Oil€Companies€on€all€common€law€counts€and€judgment€was€entered€on€that€verdict€inÏOctober€of€1994.€€Ìà  àThe€parties€then€filed€cross€motions€for€summary€judgment€on€the€UST€claim,€bothÐ ,`'( Ðof€which€were€denied.€€Although€it€appears€that€a€second€trial€phase€was€anticipated€by€theÏcourt,€the€parties€stipulated€that€they€had€no€further€evidence€to€present€and€submitted€theÏclaim€under€the€Act€for€decision€on€the€record€developed€in€the€jury€phase.€€In€aÏMemorandum€Opinion€and€Order€on€May€16,€1995€(the€ð ðMay€Orderðð),€the€trial€court€foundÏthe€Oil€Companies€liable€as€ð ðoperatorsðð€under€the€Act.€€After€a€bench€trial€on€correctiveÏaction€costs€necessary€to€remediate€the€petroleum€release€the€trial€court€issued€a€JudgmentÏon€September€9,€1995€(the€ð ðSeptember€Judgmentðð),€incorporating€the€May€Order.€€The€courtÏawarded€the€Landowners€$2,743,660.21€for€corrective€action€costs,€$1,459,721.25€forÏattorney€fees€and€$179,350.70€for€litigation€expenses.€€Ìà  àThe€Court€of€Appeals€affirmed€the€trial€courtððs€finding€of€liability€and€award€of€costsÏfor€the€corrective€action€plan€with€the€exception€of€medical€monitoring€costs.€€The€court€alsoÏreversed€and€remanded€with€instructions€to€allocate€attorneyððs€fees€and€costs€between€theÏunsuccessful€common€law€claims€and€the€successful€claim€under€the€Act,€and€to€substituteÏinterest€on€the€delayed€attorneyððs€fees€for€the€multiplier€used€by€the€trial€court.€€We€grantedÏtransfer.€Ìà  àThe€Oil€Companies€present€several€issues,€œñ¾qñthatñ¾qññ¿qñwhichñ¿qñ›€we€restate€as:€€Ìà  àI.€€Does€the€judgment€on€the€jury€verdict€bar€the€claim€under€the€Act€under€the€¼à  àdoctrine€of€collateral€estoppel?Ìà  àII.€Do€the€Landowners€have€standing€to€bring€an€action€under€the€Act€for€ð ða€¼à  àcontributionðð€even€though€they€are€not€persons€liable€under€the€Act?Ô#†XTXŠŠÆI#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ *h%& Ðà  àIII.€Are€the€Oil€Companies€ð ðoperatorsðð€of€the€stationððs€tanks€as€this€term€is€used€in€theÐ ,`'( Ðà  àAct?Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ¢Q#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ ° Ðà  àIV.€Was€the€trial€courtððs€allocation€of€liability€between€Shell€and€Unocal€proper?Ìà  àV.€Does€the€Act€permit€recovery€of€anticipated€costs€for€future€corrective€action?Ìà  àVI.€Are€medical€monitoring€costs€ð ðcorrective€action€costsðð€recoverable€under€the€Act?Ìà  àVII.€Was€the€attorneysðð€fee€award€properly€calculated?€Ìà  àIn€addition,€the€Landowners€filed€a€cross€appeal€arguing€that€they€are€entitled€to€a€newÏtrial€on€the€common€law€claims€because€of€an€erroneous€jury€instruction€on€federalÏtrademark€protection.€Ìà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠÆŒR#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÌò òÓ  ÓI.€Collateral€Estoppeló óÐ h¸ ÐÓQUÓà  àThe€Oil€Companies€assert€that€an€essential€element€of€Count€I€„„€the€Oil€CompaniesððÏstatus€as€operators€„„€was€fully€and€fairly€litigated€before€the€jury€and€was€decided€adverselyÏto€the€Landowners.€€As€a€result,€the€Oil€Companies€argue,€the€trial€court€was€precluded€fromÏfinding€them€liable€under€the€Act.€€Specifically,€their€argument€is:€(1)€the€jury€found€in€favorÏof€the€Oil€Companies€on€the€claim€of€strict€liability€for€an€abnormally€dangerous€activity;€(2)Ïthe€finding€for€the€Oil€Company€necessarily€turned€on€the€juryððs€conclusion€that€the€OilÏCompanies€did€not€control€the€West€Point€gasoline€station;€(3)€in€order€to€be€an€ð ðoperatorððÏunder€the€Act,€a€party€must€have€control€over€the€gasoline€station;€therefore,€(4)€under€theÏdoctrine€of€collateral€estoppel,€the€juryððs€implicit€finding€on€control€precludes€a€finding€thatÏeither€Oil€Company€is€an€operator€under€the€Act.Ìà  àCollateral€estoppel€or€issue€preclusion€bars€subsequent€litigation€of€an€issue€Ð ,h'( Ðnecessarily€adjudicated€in€a€former€suit€if€the€same€issue€is€presented€in€the€subsequent€suit.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р° ÐEven€if€the€Oil€Companies€were€correct€that€control€is€necessary€to€the€common€law€countsÏand€that€the€ð ðcontrolðð€litigated€in€the€common€law€counts€is€identical€to€the€control€necessaryÏfor€liability€under€the€Act,׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€it€does€not€follow€that€the€jury€verdict€necessarily€adjudicated€theÐ ˜ è Ðvicarious€liability€of€the€Oil€Companies€under€the€Act.€€The€Act€uses€the€term€ð ðresponsibilityÏforðð€the€daily€operations€as€well€as€ð ðin€control€ofðð€those€operations.€€As€elaborated€below,Ïmore€than€one€person€can€be€an€operator€of€a€given€tank,€and€the€absence€of€the€ability€toÏcontrol€the€daily€operation€does€not€preclude€liability€as€one€ð ðhaving€responsibility€forðð€itsÏoperations.€€Accordingly,€even€if€entitled€to€collateral€estoppel€effect,€the€jury€verdict€did€notÏresolve€the€status€of€the€Oil€Companies€under€the€Act.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ.U#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ h¸ Ѐà  àMoreover,€a€prime€consideration€in€defensive€use€of€collateral€estoppel€is€whether€theÐ `° Ðparty€against€whom€the€prior€judgment€is€asserted€has€a€ð ðfull€and€fair€opportunity€to€litigateÐ X¨ Ðthe€issue€and€whether€it€would€be€otherwise€unfair€under€the€circumstances€to€permit€the€useÏof€collateral€estoppelÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ1^#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ.ðð€€òòSullivan€v.€American€Cas.€Co.óó,€605€N.E.2d€134,€138€(Ind.€1992).Ô#†XTXŠŠÆé_#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTԀР¨ø ÐA€trial€courtððs€decision€to€refuse€to€apply€collateral€estoppel€will€be€reversed€only€upon€aÏshowing€of€abuse€of€discretion.€€òòWilcox€v.€Stateóó,€664€N.E.2d€379,€381€(Ind.€Ct.€App.€1996).Ô#†XTXŠŠÆw`#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTԀР˜ è ÐThe€trial€court€concluded€in€its€May€Order€that€Plaintiffs€did€not€have€a€full€and€fairÏopportunity€to€litigate€defendantsðð€liability€under€the€Act,€and€that€it€would€be€unfair€to€applyÏcollateral€estoppelÔ#†XTXŠŠÆa#ÔÓëÓÓ]ÓÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€for€several€reasons:€(1)€the€Oil€Companies€agreed€that€Count€I€„„€liabilityÐ €Ð  Ðunder€the€Act€„„€would€be€tried€separately€to€the€courtÔ#†XTXŠŠÆäb#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ,€(2)Ô#†XTXŠŠƾc#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆd#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔthe€defendants€objected€to€and€theÐ xÈ  Ðcourt€excluded€testimony€from€plaintiffsðð€expert€on€the€breadth€of€Indianaððs€environmentalÏœlaws,€(3)›€the€jury€was€completely€uninformed€about€Indianaððs€environmental€policies€or€theÏscope€of€ð ðoperatorðð€liability.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆHd#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔThe€trial€court€also€found€the€Oil€Companiesðð€argument€onÐ `° Ðcollateral€estoppel€ð ðquestionableðð€in€light€of€the€Oil€Companiesðð€arguments€to€the€federalÏcourt€in€their€unsuccessful€attempt€to€remove€the€œcase.€›€œThe€district€court€noted€that€the€Oil›ÏœCompanies€had€argued€to€the€federal€court›€œð ðthat›€Count€I€is€ððseparateðð€and€ððdistinctðð€fromÏplaintiffsðð€common€law€theories€and€that€resolution€of€the€common€law€claims€would€òònotóóÐ @  Ðpreclude€the€litigation€of€Count€Iðð€(emphasis€in€original).Ô#†XTXŠŠƨe#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ!h#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Accordingly,€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆdh#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔwe€find€no€abuse€ofÐ 8"ˆ Ðdiscretion€in€the€trial€courtððs€disallowance€of€the€use€of€collateral€estoppel.ÌÌò òÓ  ÓII.€The€Landownersðð€Standing€Under€the€Actó óÐ  (p#$ ÐÓRiÓà  à€The€Act€provides€for€actions€by€private€parties€to€recover€costs€of€a€ð ðcorrectiveÏaction:ððÓÎbÓÐ ,h'( Їà  àA€person€who:Ìà  à€.€.€.Ìà  à(2)€undertakes€corrective€action€resulting€from€a€release€from€an€underground€storage€¼à  àtank,€regardless€of€whether€the€corrective€action€is€undertaken€voluntarily€or€under€¼à  àan€order€issued€under€this€chapter,€IC€13„23„14„1,€IC€13„7„20„19€(before€its€repeal),€¼à  àor€IC€13„7„20„26€(before€its€repeal);€Ìà  àis€entitled€to€receive€a€contribution€from€a€person€who€owned€or€operated€the€¼à  àunderground€storage€tank€at€the€time€the€release€occurred.€.€.€.€€In€resolving€a€¼à  àcontribution€claim,€a€court€may€allocate€the€cost€of€a€corrective€action€among€the€¼à  àparties€to€the€action€using€equitable€factors€that€the€court€determines€are€appropriate.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ´h#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÓÓ€Ó“mÓÔ#†XTXŠŠÆtm#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÓÓÐ Œ Ü  ÐòòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„23„13„8(b)€(1998).€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆãm#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€The€Oil€Companies€argue€that€the€Landowners€do€notÐ „Ô  Ðhave€standing€under€this€section.€€They€point€out€that€the€private€remedy€permits€recoveryÏof€ð ða€contribution.ðð€€From€this€they€argue€that€because€the€Landowners€had€no€legal€liabilityÏto€third€parties€to€take€corrective€action€regarding€the€leak,€they€are€not€entitled€toÏð ðcontributionðð€under€the€Act.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ{n#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ d´ Ðà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ?p#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔPrior€to€1991€only€the€state€could€initiate€corrective€actions,€but€owners€and€operatorsÐ \¬ Ðwho€paid€costs€of€state„initiated€corrective€actions€were€granted€subrogation€rights€to€recoverÏagainst€a€third€party€if€the€release€was€caused€solely€by€the€acts€or€omissions€of€the€thirdÏparty.€€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„7„20„21€(1988).Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ¢p#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€This€section€was€amended€in€1991Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ=r#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€to€permitÐ D” Ðrecovery€by€any€ð ðpersonðð€takingÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ¡r#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€voluntary€corrective€action€as€well€as€those€recoveringÐ ¦#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆf§#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€From€theÐ X¨ Ðbeginning€of€the€time€span€relevant€to€this€caseÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ©§#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€the€ð ðdaily€operationsððœ×ƒ/( ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€i.e.,€the€activitiesÐ P  Ðroutinely€associated€with€the€use€of€the€tank,€included€filling€it,€dispensing€gasoline€from€itÏand€measuring€its€contents.€€We€are€directed€to€no€other€routine,€regularly€conducted€activityÏexcept€those€required€by€state€and€federal€law€in€later€years.œ×ƒ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€€Until€more€sophisticatedÐ  ð Ðtechniques€were€developed,€measurement€was€accomplished€by€periodic€ð ðstickingðð€i.e.Ïplacing€a€dipstick€like€pole€in€the€tank€to€determine€the€level€of€fluid.€€Second,€the€statuteÏrequires€that€the€ð ðcontrolðð€or€ð ðresponsibilityðð€relate€to€the€ð ðoperationðð€of€the€undergroundÏstorage€tank€itself€and€not€to€other€aspects€of€the€stationððs€operation€or€management.€Ó“ŸÓÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ9¨#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔòòÓÓ€óóAs€theÐ €Ð  Ðstructure€of€the€statute€makes€clear€ð ðoperatorðð€is€defined€in€light€of€what€is€being€operated€„„Ïin€this€case€the€UST.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ2¬#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€òòSeeóó€òòÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ$­#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔNurad,€Inc.€v.William€E.€Hooper€&€Sons€Co.óó,€966€F.2d€837,€842Ð pÀ Ð(4th€Cir.€1992)€(Ô#†XTXŠŠÆu­#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔoperator€liability€attaches€under€CERCLA€only€if€the€defendant€hadÐ h¸ Ðauthority€to€control€the€cause€of€the€contamination).€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ®#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔòòÐ `° Ðœóóà  àC.›€òòPractical€Leverage€Over€the€Stationððs€Management€is€InsufficientóóÐ X¨ ÐÔ#†XTXŠŠÆí®#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠƹ¯#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔThe€Landowners€and€some€òòamicióó€argue€that€a€person€ð ðhaving€responsibility€forððÐ P  Ðincludes€persons€and€entities€who€retain€the€ð ðability€to€control€the€operations€of€the€station,ððÐ H˜ Ðin€other€words,€practical€control.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ°#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔThe€Oil€Companies€contend€that€ð ðresponsibility€forðð€meansÐ ° Ðð ðright€to€control,ðð€not€practical€ability€to€cajole,€influence€or€demand€results€from€theÏstationsðð€managers.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆV±#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆb²#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔBecause€neither€party€can€point€to€language€that€readily€resolves€thisÐ  ð Ðdispute,€each€urges€us€to€resort€to€precedents€under€other€assertedly€analogous€statutes.€€TheÏLandowners€urge€a€broad€reading€of€the€definition€in€light€of€the€legislatureððs€directive€toÏconstrue€environmental€statutes€liberally€to€effectuate€their€purpose.€€òòSeeóó€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„12„Ð ˆØ  Ð2„1€(1998).€€Noting€that€Indianaððs€Act€is€remedial,€as€is€CERCLA,€the€Landowners€offerÏdecisions€under€that€federal€statute€to€support€their€claim€that€ð ðoperatorðð€includes€those€whoÏhave€the€practical€ability€to€control€the€affairs€of€the€station.€€Several€CERCLA€cases€stateÏthat€those€who€have€the€ð ðability€to€controlðð€are€operators€under€that€law,€but€find€noÏð ðoperatorsðð€under€the€facts€presented.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòEdward€Hines€Lumber€Co.€v.€VulcanÐ `° ÐMaterials€Co.óó,€861€F.2d€155,€158€(7th€Cir.€1988)€(supplier€of€chemicals€not€an€ð ðoperatorððÐ X¨ Ðwhere€it€could€only€stop€selling€product€and€deny€use€of€trademark);€òòNuradóó,€966€F.2d€at€842Ð P  Ð(tenants€were€not€ð ðoperatorsðð€because€lease€provisions€did€not€include€ð ðauthority€to€controlÏthe€hazardous€wasteðð);€òòbutóó€òòseeóó€òòCPC€œIntððl,›€Inc.€v.€Aerojet„General€Corp.óó,€731€œF.€Supp.›€783,Ð @  Ð788€(W.D.€Mich.€1989)€(party€is€operator€where€it€assumes€control€of€an€activity€„„€theÏremoval€and€disposal€of€waste).€€Ô#†XTXŠŠƦ²#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔThe€Oil€companies€respond€that€RCRA,€not€CERCLA,Ð 0$€  Ðcontains€a€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€that€is€the€same€as€that€found€in€Indianaððs€Act.œ×ƒ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€Ð (&x!" ÐAccordingly€they€contend€only€RCRA€case€law€is€relevant€here.€€This€point€is€moot€howeverÏbecause€the€RCRA€cases€cited€by€the€parties€turn€on€other€provisions€of€RCRA€not€at€issueÏhereÔ#†XTXŠŠÆÓ¸#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€and€do€not€address€the€definition€of€operator.€€Ð  ð ÐÔ#†XTXŠŠÆÛº#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔòòà  àóóÔ#†XTXŠŠÆc»#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔFor€several€reasons,€we€conclude€that€the€practical€ability€to€influence€the€station€isÐ ˜ è Ðin€itself€insufficient€to€render€a€refiner€an€ð ðoperatorðð€of€the€tanks.€€òòÐ  à Ðóóà  à1.òò€œFederal›€Legislative€History€and€Administrative€œDefinitions›Ð ˆØ  Ðóóà  àIndiana€publishes€only€sparse€legislative€history.€€However,€Indianaððs€Act€is€basedÐ €Ð  Ðlargely€on€the€federal€UST€Act€found€in€RCRA,€and€Indianaððs€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€isÏdrawn€verbatim€from€RCRA.€€Accordingly€the€federal€legislative€history€is€relevant€to€theÏextent€it€bears€on€the€meaning€of€ð ðoperator.ðð€€As€a€preliminary€matter,€it€is€important€to€noteÏthat€CERCLA€was€designed€to€deal€with€the€cleanup€of€hazardous€waste€sites.€€If€applicableÏhere,€it€would€render€the€Oil€Companies€liable€as€responsible€persons€by€reason€of€theirÏhaving€contributed€gasoline€to€the€site.€€42€U.S.C.€ðð€9607(a)€(1994€&€Supp.€II€1996).€ÏHowever,€as€noted€above,€CERCLA€contains€an€explicit€exception€for€petroleum.€€AccordingÏto€a€Congressional€Research€Service€Report€ð ðat€the€time€of€[CERCLAððs]€passage,€severalÏmembers€wanted€to€include€petroleum€product€spills€in€the€Superfund€Act,€but€the€possibilityÏthat€a€prolonged€debate€would€prevent€enactment€before€the€end€of€the€Congress€led€theseÏmembers€to€agree€to€the€œexclusion›€.€.€.€.ðð€€Donald€V.€Feliciano,€ð ðLeaking€UndergroundÏStorage€Tanks:€a€Potential€Environmental€Problem,ðð€Congressional€Record,€February€29,Ï1984,€pp.€S2026„S2030,€òòreprintedóó€òòinóó€òòA€Legislative€History€of€the€Solid€œWaste›Ð *h%& ÐDisposal€Act€as€Amended,óó€at€2145€(1991)€[hereinafter€òòLegislative€Historyóó].€òòÐ ,`'( Ðóóà  àAs€an€alternative€to€removing€the€petroleum€exemption€from€CERCLA,€the€UST€ActÐ ° Ðwas€introduced€by€Senator€Durenberger€in€1984€as€Amendment€2758€to€Senate€Bill€757,€theÏreauthorization€of€RCRA.ñÁqñœñÏqñ׃×ñÏqññÏqñ׃×ñÏqññÁqññÁqñ׃×ñÁqñÝ ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€€The€amendment€initially€defined€ð ðowner€or€operatorðð€as€ð ðanyÐ  ð Ðperson€who€owned,€operated,€or€otherwise€controlled€activities€at€such€tank€immediatelyÏprior€to€such€abandonment.ðð€€Amendment€by€Senator€Durenberger,€Congressional€Record,ÏFebruary€29,€1984,€pp.€S2026„S2030,€òòreprintedóó€òòinóó€òòLegislative€Historyóó€at€2139.€€A€secondÐ ˆØ  Ðversion€of€the€amendment€was€adopted€by€the€Senate€a€few€months€later€that€definedÏð ðoperatorðð€as€ð ðany€person€in€control€of€or€having€responsibility€for€the€daily€operation€of€theÏunderground€storage€tank.ðð€€Amendment€by€Senator€Durenberger,€Congressional€RecordÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ·»#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ,Ð pÀ ÐJuly€25,€1984,€pp.€S9138„9217,€òòreprintedóó€òòinóóòò€Legislative€Historyóó€at€2294.€€The€secondÐ h¸ Ðamendment€contained€no€time€limitation.€€It€removed€ð ðotherwise€controlledðð€from€theÏdefinition€of€ð ðowner€or€operator,ðð€separated€the€definitions€of€ð ðownerðð€and€ð ðoperator,ðð€andÏexpanded€the€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€to€include€two€separate€categories€of€ð ðoperators,ðð€thoseÏwho€ð ðcontrolðð€and€those€who€have€ð ðresponsibilityðð€for€the€daily€operation€of€the€tank.€€ThisÏversion€of€the€amendment€was€adopted€by€the€conference€committee.€€Conference€Report€toÏAccompany€H.R.€2867,€at€123,€126„27€òòreprintedóó€òòinóó€òòLegislative€History€óóat€2436„7.€TheÐ 8"ˆ Ðstatute€contemplates€the€possibility€that€there€could€be€more€than€one€operator€of€a€tank€atÐ 0$€  Ðthe€same€time:€those€who€ð ðcontrolðð€the€on„site€personnel€who€have€daily€or€regular€contactÏwith€the€tank,€and€those€who€have€ð ðresponsibilityðð€for€those€activities.€€This€reading€of€theÏstatute€is€consistent€with€EPAððs€interpretation€of€the€statute.€€ð ðThe€term€ððoperatorðð€is€veryÏbroad€.€.€.€.€€As€with€owners,€there€may€be€more€œthan›€one€operator€of€a€tank€at€a€given€time.€ÏEach€owner€and€operator€has€obligations€under€the€statute€and€the€regulations.ðð€€60€Fed.€Reg.Ïœ46,693›€(1995).Ìà  àThe€Oil€Companies€point€to€several€EPA€regulations€and€public€pronouncements€thatÏthey€contend€suggest€that€refiners€who€merely€supplied€gasoline€are€not€ð ðoperators.ðð€€ForÏexample,€in€considering€the€effect€of€regulation€and€the€necessity€to€keep€standards€simpleÏand€implementable,€the€EPA€observed€that€ð ðmany€UST€facilities€are€owned€and€operated€asÏsmall€local€businesses,€such€as€ððMom€and€Popðð€gasoline€service€stations€and€convenienceÏstores.€€These€small€entrepreneurs,€who€are€used€to€operating€their€business€with€minimalÏregulation,€will€be€significantly€affected€by€environmental€regulations.ðð€€53€Fed.€Regòò.óó€œ37,096›Ð P  Ð(1988).€€Similarly,€it€observed€that€ð ðthe€UST€regulated€community,€[is]€largely€composed€ofÏsmall€businesses€with€limited€resources€.€.€.€.ðð€òòId.óó€at€37084.€€However,€these€commentsÐ @  Ðmerely€reflect€the€obvious€fact€that€by€far€the€largest€in€number€of€ð ðoperatorsðð€were€expectedÏto€be€small€businesses.€€It€does€not€necessarily€lead€to€the€conclusion€that€the€EPA,€as€theÏfederal€agency€charged€with€enforcing€the€statute,€excluded€the€possibility€that€major€oilÏrefiners€could€also€be€ð ðoperatorsðð€of€independent€stations€under€the€federal€UST€Act.€€AndÏof€course,€to€the€extent€a€refiner€directly€owns€and€operates€retail€outlets,€it€is€the€operatorÏof€the€stationððs€tanks.€€The€existence€of€company€owned€retail€outlets€has€been€recognizedÐ ,`'( Ðthroughout€the€evolution€of€legislation€on€USTs€and€was€surely€known€to€the€EPA.€ÏAccordingly,€these€quotes€cannot€be€read€to€exclude€the€possibility€of€a€large,€financiallyÏsolvent€operator.€€Ìòòà  àóó2.òò€Lender€Liability€ProvisionsóóÐ ˜ è Ðà  àThe€Landowners€point€to€a€recent€amendment,€quoted€in€footnote€9€òòsupraóóÔ#†XTXŠŠƺÇ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ,€apparentlyÐ  à Ðintended€to€exempt€lenders€from€the€scope€of€ð ðownerðð€and€ð ðoperator.ðð€€They€contend€thatÏthese€amendments€are€evidence€of€refinersðð€liability€under€the€Act.€€Specifically,€theyÏcontend€that:€(1)€lenders€must€have€been€exposed€to€liability€under€the€act€as€operators€or€theÏlegislature€would€not€have€amended€the€Act€to€exclude€them;€(2)€lenders€generally€have€evenÏmore€attenuated€relationships€to€USTs€than€refiners;€therefore,€(€3)€if€lenders€were€potentiallyÏliable€under€the€Act€before€the€amendment,€refiners€must€be€liable€because€the€amendmentÏdoes€not€help€them.Ìà  àIndianaððs€1998€amendment€added€section€(e)€to€the€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€to€excludeÏlenders€who€do€not€otherwise€participate€in€the€ð ðmanagementðð€of€the€tank.׃4×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ£Ô#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔIn€broad€brush,Ð H˜ Ðthis€amendment€provided€that€one€who€lends€to€a€station€and€takes€title€solely€as€a€securityÏâ âinterest€without€ð ðparticipating€in€the€managementðð€of€the€tank,€is€not€an€operator.€€ThisÐ 8"ˆ Ðstatutory€modification€followed€similar€changes€in€federal€statutes€and€regulations.œ×ƒ.×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€€It€isÐ ° Ðâ âobvious€why€lenders€who€hold€title€to€the€tank,€even€if€only€as€security€for€a€loan,€wereÏconcerned€that€they€might€be€deemed€ð ðowners.ðð€€In€addition,€the€EPA€explained€that€aÏforeclosing€lender€might€become€an€ð ðoperator,ðð€and€concern€for€retailersðð€access€to€financingÏled€to€an€explicit€federal€exemption€for€lenders€that€removed€them€from€both€owner€andÏoperator€status.€€60€Fed.€Reg.€œ46,695›€(1995).€Ìà  àThe€1998€amendment€to€Indianaððs€UST€Act€tracked€the€federal€lender€provision€inÏIndianaððs€definitions€of€ð ðoperatorðð€and€ð ðowner.ðð€€The€Landowners€suggest€that€this€changeÏmust€necessarily€mean€that€those€who€have€practical€leverage€over€the€station€managers€areÏð ðoperators.ðð€€However,€its€inclusion€in€Indianaððs€definition€of€both€ð ðownerðð€and€ð ðoperatorððÏseems€more€attributable€to€the€lobbying€power€of€the€lending€community€and€its€care€to€winÏprotection€for€its€members€than€an€expression€of€opinion€by€a€subsequent€legislature€as€toÏthe€meaning€of€the€Act.€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ_Ø#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Nor€can€we€draw€any€inference€from€the€failure€of€the€GeneralÐ P  ÐAssembly€to€amend€the€Act€in€response€to€the€decision€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€in€this€case.€ÏThe€decision€was€rendered€in€August€1997€and€the€arguably€conflicting€decision€in€òòLovoldÐ @  ÐCo.€v.€Shell€Oil€œCo.óó,›€was€rendered€in€November€1997.€€We€granted€transfer€in€this€case€onÐ 8"ˆ ÐJanuary€21,€1998,€in€the€midst€of€a€ð ðshort€sessionðð€in€which€the€ability€to€consider€anyÏlegislation€is€limited.€€Without€more,€the€failure€of€the€General€Assembly€to€act€cannot€beÐ (&x!" Ðregarded€as€a€statement€of€policy.€Ìòòà  àóó3.€òòLeaded€Fuel€RegulationóóÐ ¨ø Ðà  àThe€Landowners€contend€that€the€Oil€Companiesðð€ability€to€force€branded€stations€toÏcomply€with€leaded€fuel€regulations€in€the€1980s€proves€that€the€Companies€retain€theÏð ðability€to€controlðð€the€stations,€and€this€in€turn€renders€them€responsible€for€the€storage€tank.€ÏIt€appears€to€us,€however,€that€this€statutory€history€suggests€the€opposite.€€When€leaded€fuelÏwas€identified€as€an€object€of€national€concern,€Congress€elected€to€make€refiners€liable€forÏfailure€of€compliance€by€their€branded€stations€whether€or€not€the€station€was€independent.׃(×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†XTXŠŠÆvÞ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTԀРxÈ  ÐThis€makes€it€clear€that€the€legislature€can,€if€it€wishes,€impose€liability€on€the€refiners€as€aÏmeans€of€causing€them€to€use€their€practical€ability€to€enforce€the€regulation€against€retailÏstations.€€That€was€the€path€Congress€chose€when€leaded€gasoline€was€banned€from€theÏdistribution€system.€€However,€we€find€no€indication€in€Indianaððs€statute€or€the€regulationsÏpromulgated€under€it€that€the€legislature€chose€to€impose€liability€for€practical€ability€toÏcontrol€in€the€area€of€LUST€cleanup.€€Its€presence€in€one€statute€and€absence€in€USTÏlegislation€shows,€if€anything,€the€legislatureððs€choice€to€refuse€to€impose€this€derivativeÏliability€on€refiners€in€the€case€of€USTs.Ìà  à4.€òòIDEMððs€Interpretation€of€the€œAct›Ð 0$€  Ðóóà  àIDEM€as€amicus€curiae€asserts€that€the€Court€of€Appeals€and€the€trial€court€properlyÐ (&x!" Ðconstrued€ð ðoperatorðð€and€that€the€department€construes€ð ðoperatorðð€in€the€same€manner.€ÏIDEM€argues€that€the€Court€owes€deference€to€the€agencyððs€interpretation€of€the€statute€itÏenforces.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆä#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ  ð Ðà  àIDEM€has€been€involved€in€the€West€Point€site€since€1989,€installing€carbon€filtersÏin€the€Landownersðð€homes,€testing€the€Landownersðð€water€and€engaging€an€environmentalÏconsulting€firm,€Roy€F.€Weston,€Inc.,€to€investigate€the€extent€of€the€contamination€and€theÏsource.€€IDEM€is€a€ð ðpersonðð€under€the€Act€and€has€the€ability€to€recover€its€corrective€actionÏcosts.€€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðððð€13„11„2„158(a)€&€13„23„13„8€(1998).€€However,€at€no€time€did€IDEMÐ xÈ  Ðpursue€the€Oil€Companies.€€Indeed,€IDEM€offers€no€example€of€agency€enforcement€actionÏin€any€other€case€against€a€refiner€who€supplied€gasoline€to€a€branded€station.€Ô#†XTXŠŠƬè#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€In€sum,Ð h¸ Ðalthough€IDEM€now€takes€the€position€in€this€Court€that€it€interprets€ð ðoperatorðð€to€includeÏmajor€oil€producers,€it€has€taken€no€action€to€that€effect€at€the€operating€level.€€Ìà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠÆŸë#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔUltimately,€the€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€under€the€statute€presents€a€question€of€law.œ×ƒ*×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú18Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  כРP  ÐÔ#†XTXŠŠÆÁì#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔHowever,€administrative€interpretation€may€provide€a€guide€to€legislative€intent.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÊí#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔð ðA€longÐ H˜ Ðadhered€to€administrative€interpretation€dating€from€the€legislative€enactment,€with€noÏsubsequent€change€having€been€made€in€the€statute€involved,€raises€a€presumption€ofÏlegislative€acquiescence€which€is€strongly€persuasive€upon€the€œcourts.ðð€›€œòòBoard›€of€Sch.Ð 0$€  ÐTrustees€œv.›€Marion€Teachers€Assððnóó,€530€N.E.2d€309,€311€(Ind.€Ct.€App.€1988);€òòaccordóó€òòBakerÐ ° Ðv.€Comptonóó,€247€Ind.€39,€42,€211€N.E.2d€162,€164€(1965).€€In€this€case€IDEMððs€enforcementÐ ¨ø Ðhistory€is€more€persuasive€than€its€current€position€as€amicus€curiae.€€IDEM€has€cited€noÏexample€of€its€effort€to€secure€compliance€with€the€Act€by€a€major€oil€producer€on€either€theÏregulatory€or€remedial€front.€€The€legislature€has€never€amended€the€Act€to€include€major€oilÏproducers€as€operators.€€Much€as€we€might€agree€with€the€policy€considerations€underlyingÏIDEMððs€current€position€as€presented€to€this€Court,€we€cannot€conclude€that€it€represents€aÏlongstanding€administrative€interpretation€reflecting€legislative€acquiescence.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ_î#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ xÈ  Ðòòà  àóó5.€òòPublic€Policy€and€Legislative€OptionsóóÔ#†XTXŠŠÆòò#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ pÀ Ðà  àÔ#†XTXŠŠƉó#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔThe€Landowners€and€amici€offer€compelling€public€policy€arguments€in€favor€ofÐ h¸ Ðimposing€liability€on€those€who€both€profited€from€the€sale€of€the€contaminant€and€were€inÏthe€best€practical€position€to€assure€its€containment.€€However,€as€we€read€the€statute€theseÏarguments€were€not€accepted€by€the€legislature.€€In€its€current€procedural€posture€the€soleÏremedy€before€this€Court€turns€on€statutory€interpretation.€€Accordingly,€we€are€not€free€toÏadopt€on€our€own€a€policy€the€legislature€has€rejected.€€For€the€reasons€given€we€disagreeÏwith€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€the€Oil€Companiesðð€retention€of€€ð ðability€to€controlððÏthrough€their€franchise€distribution€system€was€intended€by€the€legislature€to€create€liabilityÏas€an€operator€under€the€Act.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆìó#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ (&x!" Ðà  àWe€are€dealing€with€a€statute€that€imposes€retroactive€liability€for€damage€to€theÏenvironment€that€arose€from€actions€that€were€widespread€and€accepted€at€the€time€theyÏoccurred,€now€decades€in€the€past.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆE÷#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€Faced€with€this€situation,€the€legislature€had€severalÐ ,`'( Ðoptions€in€dealing€with€the€costs€of€compliance€with€current€standards.€€The€GeneralÏAssembly€could€have€imposed€these€costs€on€suppliers€to€the€stations,€as€CERCLA€does€withÏhazardous€waste,€and€as€was€done€in€implementing€the€lead€free€gasoline€requirements.€€ItÏcould€have€chosen€to€let€the€losses€fall€where€they€land,€leaving€every€citizen€to€whateverÏcommon€law€remedies,€if€any,€are€available.€€Or€it€could€have€regarded€these€costs€as€itemsÏto€be€properly€absorbed€either€by€society€as€a€whole€or€by€some€broad€segment€of€theÏeconomy.€€This€could€be€achieved€by€using€public€funds€raised€by€taxation€or€by€some€moreÏtargeted€device€such€as€a€user€fee,€as€in€part€was€done€in€UST€legislation.€€òòSeeóó€òòInd.€Codeóó€ððððÐ xÈ  Ð13„23„7„2€&€13„23„12„1€(1998).€€These€policy€choices€were,€and€are,€all€available€to€theÏGeneral€Assembly.€€However,€as€we€read€the€current€Indiana€UST€Act,€the€legislature€hasÏnot€seen€fit€to€constitute€every€refiner€with€a€brand€an€operator€of€the€independent€stationÏflying€its€flag.€€Neither€the€language€of€the€statute€nor€its€limited€legislative€history€suggestsÏthat€the€Oil€Companies€who€supplied€the€gasoline€to€the€distribution€system,€without€more,Ïare€operatorsÔ#†XTXŠŠÆtø#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€under€the€Act.€€And€practical€leverage€over€the€station€owner€does€not€sufficeÐ H˜ Ðwhether€through€threat€by€a€refiner€of€debranding,€a€threat€by€a€bank€to€call€a€loan,€or€anyÏother€action€by€a€person€that€may€be€able€to€influence€or€even€dictate€how€the€stationððsÏoperations€are€conducted,€but€has€no€actual€or€contractual€relationship€to€the€daily€operationÏof€the€tank.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÐý#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTԀР(&x!" ÐœÔ#†XTXŠŠÆšÿ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔà  àD.›€òòThe€Legal€Standard€for€OperatoróóÐ  (p#$ Ðà  àUltimately,€the€determination€of€who€had€ð ðresponsibility€for€the€daily€operationðð€andÏtherefore€was€an€ð ðoperatorðð€of€the€tanks€at€West€Point€turns€on€(1)€what€constituted€the€dailyÐ ,`'( Ðoperation€of€the€tanks,€(2)€who€did€these€things,€(3)€in€what€capacity€that€person€was€actingÏand€(4)€who€is€responsible€for€that€personððs€actions€in€that€capacity.€€The€ð ðdaily€operationððÏis€to€be€judged€by€the€standard€of€the€time.€€Obviously€there€were€fewer€activities€thatÏconstituted€the€ð ðdaily€operationðð€before€federal€and€state€regulation€of€USTs.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆóÿ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€DeterminingÐ ˜ è Ðwho€is€responsible€for€a€given€individualððs€actions€is€a€legal€question€governed€byÏconventional€principles€of€law.€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÒ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ­#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔTo€state€the€obvious,€business€associations€can€act€onlyÐ ˆØ  Ðthrough€people.€€Yet€the€Act€includes€no€explicit€rule€of€vicarious€liability.€€Rather,€it€plainly€Ïcontemplates€that€not€only€those€people€who€literally€ð ðoperateðð€the€tank€are€liable,€but€alsoÏthose€entities€who€are€liable€for€those€individuals€under€conventional€principles.Ô#†XTXŠŠÆð#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTԜ׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú19Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ™#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€TheÐ pÀ Ðcommon€law€affords€a€rich€trove€of€tools€to€resolve€issues€of€derivative€or€vicarious€liabilityÏunder€the€statute.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ2#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔSome€are€undisputed.€€Neither€Oil€Company€asserts€that€it€could€avoidÐ `° Ðliability€if€the€ð ðoperatorðð€in€this€case€was€one€of€its€employees,€despite€the€absence€of€anyÏstatutory€provision€to€that€effect.€€Rather,€liability€in€the€employer/employee€context€is€drawnÏfrom€common€law€principles€of€master/servant€liability.€€There€are,€however,€doctrines€ofÏliability€in€the€independent€contractor€context€that€are€relevant€as€well.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ @  Ðà  àAs€a€general€matter,€under€the€common€law€a€principal€is€not€liable€for€damagesÐ 8"ˆ Ðresulting€from€an€independent€contractorððs€wrongful€acts€or€omissions.€€òòAllison€v.€Huber,Ð ° ÐHunt€œ&›€Nichols,€Inc.óó,€173€Ind.€App.€41,€43,€362€N.E.2d€193,€195€(1977).€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ #ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔUnder€acceptedÐ ¨ø Ðtort€doctrines€however,€an€independent€contractor€may€create€liability€for€a€principal€underÏsome€circumstances.€€First,€a€principal€is€subject€to€liability€for€physical€harm€caused€toÏothers€by€the€contractorððs€failure€to€take€reasonable€precautions€against€a€special€dangerÏinherent€in€the€work.€€òòRestatement€Second€(Torts)óó€ðð€427.€€Here€Smithððs€actions€withÐ ˆØ  Ðrespect€to€the€œtanks›€„„€filling€it€and€sticking€it€„„€are€plainly€inherent€in€the€delivery€serviceÏhe€undertook€to€perform€for€the€seller€of€gasoline€to€the€station.€€His€liability€is€not€forÏnegligence€or€failure€to€take€precautions,€however.€€Rather,€it€is€imposed€by€reason€of€hisÏstatus€as€an€operator€under€the€statute€irrespective€of€any€negligence€in€his€activities€withÏrespect€to€the€œtanks.›€€A€second€analogous€doctrine€is€that€one€who€employs€an€independentÏcontractor€to€perform€work€that€is€abnormally€dangerous€or€is€likely€to€include€trespass€orÏnuisance€is€subject€to€liability€to€the€same€extent€as€the€contractor€for€physical€harm€toÏothers.€€òòId.óó€ðððð€œ427A€&€427B.›€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ‘ #ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔÐ H˜ ÐÔ#†XTXŠŠÆ<#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔà  àIndiana€case€law€has€specifically€recognized€and€applied€these€principles.€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ“#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔAnÐ @  Ðindependent€contractor€may€create€liability€for€a€principal€if:Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ-#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€(1)€the€contract€requiresÐ 8"ˆ Ðperformance€of€intrinsically€dangerous€work;€(2)€a€party€is€by€law€or€contract€charged€withÏa€specific€duty;€(3)€the€act€will€create€a€nuisance;€(4)€the€act€will€probably€cause€injury€toÏothers€unless€due€caution€is€taken€to€avoid€the€harm;€or€(5)€the€act€to€be€performed€is€illegal.€ÏòòBagley€v.€Insight€Communications€Co.,€L.P.óó,€658€N.E.2d€584,€586€(Ind.€1995);€òòDenneau€v.Ð *h%& ÐIndiana€&€Michigan€Elec.€Coóó.,€150€Ind.€App.€615,€620,€277€N.E.2d€8,€12€(1971).Ô#†XTXŠŠÆÅ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔ€€Ô#†XTXŠŠÆ#ÔÔ‡ŠÆŠXXTÔWork€isÐ ,`'( Ðintrinsically€dangerous€if€the€risk€of€injury€involved€cannot€be€eliminated€or€significantlyÏreduced€by€taking€proper€precautions.€€òòHale€v.€Peabody€Coal€Co.óó,€168€Ind.€App.€336,€343Ð ¨ø ÐN.E.2d€316,€322€(1976).€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Ó#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Filling€a€tank€that€is€known€to€have€the€potential€to€leak€and,€if€itÐ  ð Ðdoes,€to€contaminate€othersðð€water€supplies€has€elements€that€are€strongly€reminiscent€ofÏthese€doctrines.€€Indeed,€the€trial€court€found€that€underground€storage€tanks€leak€despite€anyÏknown€precautions.€€Contaminant€finding€its€way€onto€the€property€of€the€Landowners€hasÏelements€of€both€a€trespass€and€a€nuisance€and,€in€addition,€is€abnormally€dangerous.€ÏAccordingly,€we€conclude€that€in€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôthe€context€of€operating€a€UST,€a€principal€is€liable€underÐ xÈ  Ðthe€Act€for€an€independent€contractorððs€actions€to€the€same€extent€that€common€law€liabilityÏexists€for€the€contractorððs€actions.Ìà  àÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹B#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔIn€the€1960s€Shell€and€many€other€major€oil€companies€apparently€sought€to€limitÐ `° Ðtheir€exposure€to€liability€by€introduction€of€the€jobber€into€the€distribution€chain.€€For€theÏreasons€given€in€Part€III.€C.,€we€conclude€that€this€effort€was€largely€successful.€€Where€theÏchain€of€responsibility€between€a€refiner€and€the€individual€charged€with€the€daily€operationsÏof€the€tank€is€interrupted€by€the€existence€of€a€jobber,€at€least€on€the€facts€in€this€record,€thereÏis€no€ð ðcontrolðð€or€ð ðresponsibilityðð€on€the€part€of€the€Oil€Company€within€the€meaning€of€theÏAct€simply€by€virtue€of€the€refinerððs€ability€to€exert€practical€leverage€over€the€jobber€andÏindependently€owned€station€by€refusing€to€sell€to€it.€€However,€where€there€is€no€jobber€inÏthe€chain€of€responsibility€or€some€other€set€of€facts€œcreates›€derivative€liability€for€anÏoperatorððs€actions,€the€refiner€may€be€liable€under€the€Act.€€In€sum,€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹h#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôwe€conclude€that€liabilityÐ *h%& Ðof€an€operator€extends€to€both€the€individuals€who€perform€the€tasks€constituting€ð ðdailyÐ ,`'( Ðoperationsðð€of€the€tank,€and€those€entities€who€are€responsible€under€conventional€doctrinesÏfor€the€actions€of€those€persons.€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹_#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔòòÐ ¨ø ÐóóÓ  Óò òÌIV.€Resolution€of€this€CaseÌó óÓüÓÓ  ÓÓ  Óœà  àAòò.óóÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Â#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô›€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹‹ #ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔòòWho€was€an€ð ðOperatorðð€and€at€What€TimeóóÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Ï #ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ   ð ÐÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹C!#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôà  àÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹š!#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔThe€proper€definition€of€ð ðoperatorðð€under€the€Act€is€a€question€of€law.€€For€theÐ ˜è  Ðreasons€set€forth€in€Part€III.€D.,€we€conclude€that€the€trial€court€applied€an€incorrect€test€forÏoperator€to€the€facts€of€the€case.€€Under€Trial€Rule€52,€ð ð[a]€judgment€is€clearly€erroneous€ifÏit€applies€the€wrong€legal€standard€to€properly€found€facts.ðð€€òòYanoff€v.€Muncyóó,€688€N.E.2dÐ €Ð Ð1259,€1262€(Ind.€1997).€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹è!#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔThe€facts€as€found€by€the€trial€court€support€the€conclusion€that€theÐ xÈ ÐOil€Companies€retained€the€practical€ability€to€control€how€the€station€was€operated.€ÏHowever,€theÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ê##ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€issue€in€this€case€is€whether€the€Oil€Companies€had€the€requisite€contact€withÐ h¸ Ðthe€ð ðdaily€operation€of€the€underground€storage€tankòòððóó€at€West€Point€to€support€liability€underÐ `° Ðthe€Act.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹é$#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹&#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ X¨ ÐÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Y&#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôà  àÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹°&#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔAs€discussed€in€Part€III.€D.,€the€determination€of€who€has€ð ðresponsibility€for€the€dailyÐ P   Ðoperationðð€and€therefore€is€an€ð ðoperatorðð€of€the€tanks€at€West€Point€turns€on€(1)€whatÏconstituted€the€daily€operation€of€the€tanks,€(2)€who€did€these€things,€(3)€in€what€capacityÏthat€person€was€acting€and€(4)€who€is€responsible€for€that€personððs€actions€in€that€capacity.€ÏÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹þ&#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔThe€resolution€of€what€the€daily€operations€of€the€œtanks›€are€and€who€did€them€are€related€andÐ 0(€#$ Ðhighly€fact€sensitive€inquiries.€€During€all€but€two€years€of€this€period€Fred€Smith€was€theÏperson€who€filled€the€œtanks›€and€one€of€the€people€who€checked€the€tanks.€€Part€of€SmithððsÐ  ,p'( Ðresponsibilities€as€a€commissioned€driver€included€determining€the€level€of€inventory€in€theÏœtanks›€by€ð ðstickingðð€the€œtanks.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Ï(#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô›€€Mrs.€Smith,€Fredððs€widow,€and€Joseph€Smith,€his€son,€bothÐ ¨ø Ðtestified€that€Fred€stuck€the€œtanks›€each€time€he€filled€œthem.›€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Ù*#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔKeeping€track€of€inventory€in€thisÐ  ð Ðway€allowed€Smith€to€know€how€much€gasoline€to€dispense€into€the€œtanks,›€and€to€monitorÏthe€calculation€of€how€much€the€station€owed€the€jobber€or€Shell€and€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹²+#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôthe€amount€of€SmithððsÐ  à Ðcommission.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹É,#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹C-#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔIt€also€permitted€Smith€to€identify,€in€the€industryððs€norm€of€the€time,€a€majorÐ ˆØ  Ðleak€that€may€either€raise€or€lower€the€level€of€fluid€in€the€œtanks›€by€water€seeping€in€orÏgasoline€leaking€out.€€It€is€clear€from€the€record€that€Smith€maintained€a€high€frequency€ofÏcontact€with€the€station€and€the€underground€storage€tanks.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹‡-#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹&/#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔAccording€to€Kenny€JacksonÐ pÀ Ðwho€rented€the€West€Point€station€from€Smith€from€1967€to€1968,€Smith€maintained€the€œtanks›Ïand€pumps,€although€it€is€unclear€in€what€capacity€(owner€or€commissioned€driver)€he€wasÏacting.׃&×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú20Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹j/#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ì0#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ԀРX¨ Ðà  àÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹/1#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔShell€concedes€that€the€activities€included€in€Smithððs€actions€as€a€commissioned€driverÐ P  Ðfor€Shell€„„€filling€the€underground€storage€œtanks›€and€measuring€the€contents€„„€are€some€ofÏthe€duties€that€qualify€as€ð ðdaily€operationðð€of€the€œtanks.›€€To€be€sure,€there€is€no€evidence€thatÏSmith€stuck€the€tanks€for€purposes€of€preventing€environmental€contamination.€€However,Ïthe€Act€does€not€require€us€to€find€that€an€operator€have€control€or€responsibility€for€the€USTÏfor€a€particular€purpose.€€During€the€1940s€and€50s€there€were€few€tasks€to€be€performed€inÐ (&x!" Ðconnection€with€the€operation€of€the€USTs.€€They€includedÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹“1#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€filling,€checking€inventory€andÐ ° Ðdispensing.€€Although€some€of€these€were€undoubtedly€performed€by€the€lessees,€others€wereÏequally€clearly€performed€by€Smith.€€For€the€reasons€explained€above,€more€than€one€personÏmay€be€an€ð ðoperatorðð€of€a€given€tank€at€a€given€time.€€The€Act€does€not€require€that€anÏoperator€have€responsibility€for€òòallóó€the€daily€operations€of€the€UST.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹n4#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€€We€think€it€sufficientÐ  à Ðthat€Smith€engaged€in€at€least€two€of€the€principal€tasks€performed€at€that€point€in€time€toÏfind€that€he€assumed,€and€was€among€the€persons€ð ðhaving€responsibility€œforðð›€the€ð ðdailyÏoperation€of€the€underground€storage€tank.ðð€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹D6#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹¡7#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ xÈ  ÐÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ä7#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹;8#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôà  àÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹~8#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔOn€the€facts€before€the€Court,€Unocal€was€never€an€operator€within€the€meaning€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€Act€because€neither€Smith€nor€Murphy€was€ever€an€agent€or€employee€of€Unocal.€ÏUnocalððs€only€relationship€to€Murphy€was€that€of€seller€to€buyer.€€The€gasoline€delivered€toÏthe€West€Point€tank€was€Murphyððs,€and€Murphy€accepted€the€attendant€credit€and€other€risks.Ìà  àShellððs€liability€presents€a€more€complex€situation.€€During€the€time€period€whenÏMurphy€owned€the€bulk€plant€and€Smith€distributed€Shell€gasoline€for€Murphy,€the€result€asÏto€Shell€is€the€same€as€for€Unocal.€€The€intervening€jobber€sufficiently€disrupted€theÏconnection€between€Smith€and€Shell€to€remove€Shell€from€liability€in€view€of€the€trial€courtððsÏfinding€that€Shell€did€not€in€fact€assume€control€over€the€operation€of€the€œtanks.›€€However,ÏSmith€was€a€ð ðcommissioned€driverðð€for€Shell€from€1946€to€1963.׃0×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú21Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹Ì8#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€€During€this€time,€SmithÐ (&x!" Ðacted€on€Shellððs€behalf,€dispensing€gasoline€owned€by€Shell€into€the€storage€œtanks›€at€theÏWest€Point€station€and€measuring€the€contents€of€the€œtanks›€each€time€he€filled€œthem.›€€He€wasÏpresumably€also€acting€on€his€own€behalf€as€ð ðlessorðð€whose€rent€was€calculated€by€volumeÏof€gasoline€sold.€€In€addition,€the€lessees€pumped€gasoline€for€the€retail€customers€and€alsoÏstuck€the€œtanks›€largely€because€they€were€not€confident€that€Smithððs€measurements€andÏrecords€were€always€accurate.€€This€œñÊqñwañÊqññËqñiñËqñs›€essentially€all€the€record€reveals€as€œñÌqñto€ñÌqñthe›€activitiesÏinvolved€in€the€daily€operation€of€the€œtanks›€in€that€time€period.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ò<#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ €Ð  ÐÓG ÓÓ  Óà  àThose€who€undertake€the€ð ðoperationsðð€connected€with€the€UST€„„€filling€and€testing€„„Ïcannot€avoid€liability€simply€because€they€were€never€required€by€law€or€by€contract€toÏundertake€the€obligation€in€the€first€place.€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ñ?#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔThe€Landowners€contend€that€avoidance€of€thisÐ h¸ Ðliability€is€precisely€the€reason€that€major€oil€producers€today€check€everything€at€a€stationÏexcept€the€USTs€when€they€inspect€for€franchise€or€trademark€purposes€despite€the€fact€thatÏtheir€agreements€include€requirements€that€the€station€be€operated€in€compliance€with€stateÏand€federal€environmental€laws.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹RA#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€€In€any€event,€Smith€was€not€a€rogue€tank€sticker€wanderingÐ H˜ Ðaround€rural€Indiana.€€This€aspect€of€operating€the€œtanks›€was€an€integral€part€of€Smithððs€roleÏas€a€ð ðcommissioned€agentðð€for€Shell.€€He€could€not€carry€out€his€role€for€Shell€without€alsoÏperforming€these€functions€that€are€part€of€the€operation€of€the€œtanks.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ C#ԛР0$€  ÐÓ5@ÓÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÓ  Óà  àThe€trial€court€made€no€finding€on€the€status€of€Smith€vis„a„vis€Shell€before€1963€orÐ (&x!" ÐMurphy€after€that€time.€€However,€it€seems€clear€that€Smith€was€an€independent€contractor,Ïnot€an€employee€of€either€Shell€or€Murphy.€€Smith€supplied€his€own€truck€and€ran€the€routeÏat€times€and€in€an€order€he€determined.€€There€was€no€withholding€from€his€commissions,Ð ,`'( Ðand€he€was€paid€on€the€basis€of€the€gasoline€he€delivered,€not€the€time€he€spent.€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ÔD#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔAlthoughÐ ° Ðthe€supplier€of€the€gasoline€may€have€had€the€practical€ability€to€direct€the€details€of€how€heÏperformed€the€run,€it€is€no€greater€than€the€ability€of€anyone€who€employs€a€contractor€toÏperform€a€service€and€has€the€ability€to€terminate€the€contractor€for€unsatisfactoryÏperformance.׃+×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú22Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ G#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ԀР à Ðà  àIn€summary,€for€the€reasons€already€given,€Smith,€first€as€an€independent€contractorÏof€Shell,€and€later€as€an€independent€contractor€of€Murphy,€was€an€operator.€€The€statuteÏimposes€liability€on€operators€regardless€of€fault.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ÝH#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€€Although€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹#J#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôa€principal€is€generally€not€liableÐ xÈ  Ðfor€the€actions€of€an€independent€contractor,€Shell€is€derivatively€liable€for€Smithððs€actionsÏbecause€Smithððs€work€for€Shell€meets€the€exceptions€to€this€general€rule:€the€work€isÏinherently€dangerous€and€createsÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹pJ#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€a€nuisance.œ×ƒ#ð×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú23Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ÅK#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔAccordingly,€Shell€until€1963€was€liable€forÐ `° ÐSmithððs€actions€as€its€independent€contractor€delivering€its€gasoline€into€the€œtanks.›€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹kL#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ X¨ ÐœÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹IM#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôà  àB.›€òòTime€of€the€ReleaseóóÐ P  ÐÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹¡M#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôà  àThe€Act€provides€for€contribution€from€a€ð ðperson€who€owned€or€operated€anÐ H˜ Ðunderground€storage€tank€òòat€the€time€the€release€œoccurred.óóðð›€òòInd.€Codeóó€ðð€13„23„13„8(b)Ð @  Ð(emphasis€added).€€The€trial€courtððs€findings€included€ð ðplaintiffs€submitted€extensiveÐ 8"ˆ Ðevidence€showing€that€.€.€.€the€contamination€had€been€leaking€from€the€USTs€at€the€stationÏfor€decades,€going€back€to€the€inception€of€Shellððs€operations€in€the€1940s.ðð€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹­I#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Although€it€isÐ 8"ˆ Ðnot€as€explicit€as€it€might€be,€we€take€this€as€a€finding€that€the€contamination€occurred€duringÏthe€time€Smith€was€a€commissioned€driver€for€Shell.€€It€is€certainly€supported€by€theÏevidence.€€As€the€trial€court€observed,€ð ðDr.€Keramida€testified€that€the€gasoline€ha[d]€beenÏin€the€ground€for€a€long€time€.€.€.€and€that€there€is€no€doubt€that€the€contamination€thatÏintercepted€plaintiffsðð€well€water€was€both€a€Shell€and€Union€œproduct.ððÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹çK#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô›€€Additional€evidenceÐ  à Ðsupports€the€conclusion€that€the€tanks€leaked€prior€to€1963.€€Dr.€Keramida€testified€thatÏevidence€shows€that€after€about€five€to€ten€years€of€operation,€the€majority€of€storage€tanksÏleak.€€Although€Dr.€Keramida€could€not€specify€when€the€tanks€began€to€leak,€she€didÏconclude,€based€on€the€entirety€of€the€data,€that€the€leak€began€ð ðmany€years€agoðð€in€order€forÏthe€contaminates€to€have€been€found€where€they€were€in€1989.€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ N#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔJames€Bushman,€a€corrosionÐ h¸ Ðexpert,€testified€that€the€size€of€the€tanks€found€at€West€Point€„„€500€to€1,000€gallon€„„Ïindicated€that€they€were€installed€in€the€1940s€or€50s.€€They€were€made€with€thinner€steelÏplate€walls€that€tended€to€perforate€more€quickly€than€larger€tanks.€€Mr.€Bushman€alsoÏtestified€that€USTs€averaged€a€thirteen€year€life€span€before€leaking€according€to€testing€doneÏin€the€middle€to€late€1960s.œ×ƒ)×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú24Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹*P#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹{R#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔAssuming€the€tanks€were€new€in€1946€when€the€West€PointÐ @  Ðstation€became€a€Shell€station,€it€is€more€probable€than€not€that€they€were€leaking€by€at€leastÏ1959.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹¾R#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ 0$€  ÐÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹±S#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôà  àœÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹T#ÔÌÌ›Óu@ÓÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÓ  Óò òV.€Allocation€between€Shell€and€Unocaló óÐ `° ÐÓ‰TÓÓ  Óà  àBecause€we€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€determination€that€Unocal€was€an€ð ðoperator,ððÏShell€is€the€only€defendant€liable€under€the€Act€and€soÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹jT#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ô€the€allocation€of€costs€between€the€OilÐ X ¨ ÐCompanies€is€moot.Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹³U#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÐ P   ÐÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹DV#ÔÓæTÓÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔÓ  Óò òÌConclusionÌó óÓÊVÓÓ  Óà  àWe€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€determination€that€Shell€was€an€ð ðoperatorðð€under€the€Act,Ð H˜ Ðbut€only€for€the€duration€of€Shellððs€ownership€of€the€bulk€plant€from€1946€to€1963.€€WeÏreverse€the€trial€courtððs€determination€that€Unocal€is€liable€under€the€Act€and€that€Shell€isÏliable€for€the€period€from€1963€to€1971.€€Ô#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹«V#ÔÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[ÔWe€summarily€affirm€the€decision€of€the€Court€ofÐ 0€ ÐAppeals€with€respect€to€the€following€issues:€future€corrective€action€costs,€medicalÏmonitoring€costs,€attorney€fees,€and€the€trademark€jury€instruction.€€Ind.€Appellate€RuleÏ11(B)(3).€€This€case€is€remanded€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.ÌÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ŒX#ÔÓøVÓà  àÌà  àñ¸qñÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôñ¸qñSHEPARD,€C.J.,€and€DICKSON€and€SELBY,€JJ.,€concur.ñ¸qñÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹HZ#Ôñ¸qñÐ è#8  Ðà  àñ¹qñÔ‡ŠC‹ŠXXÅ[Ôñ¹qñSULLIVAN,€J.,€not€participating.ñ¹qñÔ#†XÅ[XŠŠC‹ñZ#Ôñ¹qñÐ à%0!" Ð