EPA proposed to approve final authorization to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to administer the state hazardous waste program in lieu of the federal RCRA program. 78 FR 15299 (3/11/13). The authorization will become effective on May 10, 2013 unless EPA receives adverse written comment by April 10, 2013. The NYSDEC hazardous […]
NYSDEC To Receive Full Delegation from EPA for RCRA Program Read More »
This post is the first installment of a new series discussing common mistakes and best practices for brownfield development. In this piece, we discuss PCBs in building materials. The unexpected presence of PCBs in building materials is a common source of cost overruns in brownfield redevelopment projects are costs and delays. Recently, EPA announced a
EPA PCB Reinterpretation Will Help Facilitate Brownfield Development Read More »
Cleanup activities related to homes and businesses damaged by hurricanes or other natural disasters can pose significant health and environmental challenges. Immediate and life-threatening conditions may arise from leaking natural gas lines, and carbon monoxide poisoning from using un-vented fuel-burning equipment indoors. However, there are other serious hazards that are not immediately life threatening but
EPA Guidelines on Building Debris and Demolition Following Natural Disaster Read More »
We have previously reported on how disposal of fill material tends not to be well-regulated. During the real estate bubble demand for aggregate was at a premium. Due to the scarcity and cost of aggregate or fill material, contractors often use pulverized construction debris from other construction sites as fill material. Despite the fact that
Consultant Unable To Escape NJ Contaminated Fill Case Read More »
In U.S. v. NCR Corp., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 16097 (7th Cir. 8/3/12) the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit declined to adopt the Third Restatement of Torts reflecting a national trend away from joint liability. This ruling seems to fly in the face of the legislative history of the Comprehensive Environmental
7th Circuit Declines To Apply Third Restatement of Torts in Apportionment Case Read More »
In Lusk v First Century Bank, 2012 W. Va. LEXIS 241 (Sup. Ct. 4/27/12), the plaintiff/petitioners purchased a commercial property at an auction foreclosure sale. The Notice of Trustee’s Sale and Regency’s advertising notice stated that the sale was subject to “environmental regulations” and that the property was being sold in an “as is” condition.
Bank Not Liable For Auction Sale of Contaminated Property Read More »
In Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. United States, 129 S.Ct. 1870 (2009), the United States Supreme Court held that to establish that a defendant is a CERCLA “arranger” or generator under § 9607(a)(3), a plaintiff must establish that the defendant intended to dispose hazardous substance. The court said that while an entity’s knowledge that a product
Reports of the Demise of CERCLA “Arranger” Liability Proving to Be Premature Read More »
A federal district court ruled that a company was not liable for improper disposal of PCB-contaminated capacitors by a former employer because the employer was not aware of nor had authorized the actions of its former employee. In essence, the court concluded that the employee had engaged in an independent venture for which his employer
Company Not Liable For Disposal By Employee Read More »