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  Congress enacted CERCLA in 1980 'to facilitate the cleanup of leaking hazardous waste disposal sites.' Ascon Properties, Inc. v. Mobil Oil Co., 866 F.2d 1149, 1152 (9th Cir. 1989) (citing Exxon Corp. v. Hunt, 475 U.S. 355, 358-60, 89 L. Ed. 2d 364, 106 S. Ct. 1103 (1986)). To further this purpose, Congress created a private cause of action for certain 'response costs' against various types of persons who contributed to hazardous waste dumping at a specific site. Ascon Properties, 866 F.2d at 1152 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)).

To state a prima facie case under CERCLA, ...