42 USC § 9657 - Separability; contribution

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s9657"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 9657 - Separability; contribution"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "9657"
section_name: "Separability; contribution"
chapter_number: 103
chapter_name: "COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 96–510, title III, § 308, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2811; Pub. L. 99–499, title I, § 122(b), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1688.)"
---


# § 9657. Separability; contribution

section 9622 of this title

If any provision of this chapter, or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances and the remainder of this chapter shall not be affected thereby. If an administrative settlement under  has the effect of limiting any person’s right to obtain contribution from any party to such settlement, and if the effect of such limitation would constitute a taking without just compensation in violation of the fifth amendment of the Constitution of the United States, such person shall not be entitled, under other laws of the United States, to recover compensation from the United States for such taking, but in any such case, such limitation on the right to obtain contribution shall be treated as having no force and effect.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 96–510, title III, § 308, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2811; Pub. L. 99–499, title I, § 122(b), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1688.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, which enacted this chapter, , and sections 4611, 4612, 4661, 4662, 4681, and 4682 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, amended , , Navigation and Navigable Waters, and , Transportation, and enacted provisions set out as notes under  and sections 1 and 4611 of Title 26. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

### Amendments

1986— inserted sentence at end relating to administrative settlements under  which have effect of limiting any person’s right to obtain contribution from any party to such settlement.