---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9624"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9624"
heading: "Methane recovery"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9624"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability"
  - "Subchapter I — Hazardous Substances Releases, Liability, Compensation"
---

# §9624. Methane recovery

- (a) **In general—** In the case of a [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) at which equipment for the recovery or processing (including recirculation of condensate) of methane has been installed, for purposes of this chapter:
  - (1) The [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of such equipment shall not be considered an “[owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A)”, as defined in [section 9601(20) of this title](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20), with respect to such [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9).
  - (2) The [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of such equipment shall not be considered to have arranged for [disposal](/usc/42/9601.md?p=29) or [treatment](/usc/42/9601.md?p=29) of any [hazardous substance](/usc/42/9601.md?p=14) at such [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) pursuant to [section 9607 of this title](/usc/42/9607.md).
  - (3) The [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of such equipment shall not be subject to any action under [section 9606 of this title](/usc/42/9606.md) with respect to such [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9).
- (b) **Exceptions—** [Subsection (a)](#a) does not apply with respect to a [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) or threatened [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) of a [hazardous substance](/usc/42/9601.md?p=14) from a [facility](/usc/42/9601.md?p=9) described in [subsection (a)](#a) if either of the following circumstances exist:
  - (1) The [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) or threatened [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) was primarily caused by activities of the [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of the equipment described in [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) The [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of such equipment would be covered by paragraph [(1)](#a-1), [(2)](#a-2), [(3)](#a-3), or (4) of subsection (a) of [section 9607 of this title](/usc/42/9607.md) with respect to such [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) or threatened [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) if he were not the [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of such equipment.

  In the case of any [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) or threatened [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22) referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A) of the equipment described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be [liable](/usc/42/9601.md?p=32) under this chapter only for costs or [damages](/usc/42/9601.md?p=6) primarily caused by the activities of such [owner or operator](/usc/42/9601.md?p=20-A).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–510, title I, § 124, as added Pub. L. 99–499, title I, § 124(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1688.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 96–510, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2767, known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9601 of this title and Tables.