Why is the Confidentiality Order important?

The Confidentiality Order (Order) has been, and continues to be, effective in assisting the parties in reaching settlements under the framework established by the Court in US v. ARCO and still pending in court – six consent decrees to date have been entered since the Order was issued. There are unresolved matters in the pending US v. ARCO litigation that EPA will seek to resolve through negotiation. The Order will continue to be important in allowing for frank, confidential, non-binding discussions of positions and options to resolve disputes, that would otherwise be litigated in court.