Administrative Order-on-Consent (AOC)

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Will Kenton
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Updated December 27, 2021
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What Is an Administrative Order-on-Consent (AOC)?

An administrative order-on-consent (AOC) is an agreement between an individual or business and a regulatory body in which the individual or business agrees to pay for damages caused by violations and to cease activities that caused the damages to occur.

Administrative orders-on-consent, or AOCs, are most often associated with environmental damages, such as pollution. In a business context, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally issues an AOC to clean up or fix environmental damages. The AOC can then be enforced in court if the business does not comply.

Key Takeaways

  • An administrative order-on-consent (AOC) is an agreement between an individual or business and a regulatory body in which they agree to pay for damages caused by violations and to cease the activities that caused the damages to occur. 
  • AOCs are most often associated with environmental damage like pollution. 
  • In a business context, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally issues an AOC to clean up or fix environmental damages.
  • Governments and businesses voluntarily enter into AOCs, but they are binding once they are entered into, and nonperformance may result in litigation. 
  • In most cases, both the government and the business are jointly liable for the components of the agreement that apply to them, so both the business and the government have an interest in mitigating the environmental damage.

Understanding an Administrative Order-on-Consent

Administrative orders-on-consent (AOCs) are used by state and federal governments to compel individuals and businesses to pay for environmental damages caused by their activities.

Damages may be limited, such as a small spill that can be cleaned up relatively quickly and easily, or they may be extensive, such as a Superfund cleanup or a major oil spill. The AOC compels the individual or business to take action.

The administrative order on consent outlines what damages were caused, and what steps need to be taken in order to mitigate the damage and cleanup.

AOCs can be enforced in court if a business doesn’t comply.

Special Considerations

The AOC also provides for a comment period that allows the public, the business, and interested parties to weigh in on the proposed actions that the business is expected to take. During the comment period the business, for example, may say that the cost of cleanup is too expensive, while community members may say that the actions required of the business are not extensive enough.

Governments and businesses voluntarily enter into administrative orders-on-consent. This does not mean, however, that the agreement is not binding once it is entered into nonperformance may result in litigation.

In most cases, both the government and the business are jointly and severally liable for the components of the agreement that specifically apply to them. Both the business involved in the administrative order on consent and the government issuing the AOC have an interest in ensuring that environmental damages are taken care of in a cost-effective and timely manner.

 Example of an Administrative Order-on-Consent

As an example of an AOC, the University of Hawaii in 2021 agreed to upgrade the Waikiki Aquarium's water system (which the University oversees) due to waste runoff that exceeded pollution limits, per an agreement with the Hawaii Dept. of Health. The AOC agreed upon will allow the University to keep the aquarium open for research and public education purposes while it upgrades the facilities and rectifies the environmental issues that had been identified.

According to Keith Kawaoka, deputy director of environmental health. “The terms of the AOC ensure the Waikīkī Aquarium remains in compliance with the terms of the permit and help prevent potential water pollution that jeopardizes nearshore waters in the future.”

What Is a Superfund Site?

A Superfund site is a U.S. designation for a highly-polluted location that is considered hazardous for people. It thus requires special decontamination and cleanup efforts, funded in part by the federal government (especially when no single entity can be held liable).

What Is a Superfund Cleanup Agreement?

A Superfund settlement agreement is an administrative order-on-consent (AOC) reached between a potentially responsible party and the government to begin the cleanup process of a Superfund site. Such AOCs do not require approval by a court, but if an AOC cannot be reached, the EPA may seek a judicial consent decree.

What Are the Types of Superfund Settlement Agreements?

When one or more potentially responsible parties (PRPs) is identified with a Superfund site, an AOC can be drafted in one of four ways:

  • Administrative Agreement: PRPs agree to repay costs already incurred to the government as well as for future costs to be incurred by government contractors.
  • Agreement for "Work": PRPs do the cleanup work and pay all expenses.
  • Cost Recovery Agreement: Similar to an Administrative Agreement, the PRP only repays the government for costs it incurred in the past.
  • "Cashout" Agreement: PRPs pay an "appropriate amount" of estimated site costs in advance of the work to be done in the future.


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  1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Issuance of Revised Model Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Section 3008(h) Administrative Order on Consent," PDF Pages 1-2, 6. Accessed Dec. 27, 2021.

  2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Issuance of Revised Model Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Section 3008(h) Administrative Order on Consent," PDF Pages 6, 11-12, 15-19. Accessed Dec. 27, 2021.

  3. University of Hawai'i News. "UH will upgrade Waikīkī Aquarium’s water system." Accessed Dec. 27, 2021.

  4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Negotiating Superfund Settlements." Accessed Dec. 27, 2021.

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