Environmental Law Practice

by Anderson, Jerry L.; Hirsch, Dennis D.

• ISBN13: 9780890892763
• ISBN10: 0890892768
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Carolina Academic Pr

Author Biography

Dennis D. Hirsch is Associate Professor of Law at Capital University Law School.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Angus Macbeth	xv
Acknowledgments	xix
Introduction	xxi
Chapter I Environmental Compliance	3	(68)
A. Introduction: The Lawyer's Role in Environmental Compliance	3	(1)
B. Ensuring Compliance	4	(57)
1. Complying with the Clean Air Act's Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program	6	(46)
a) Statutes: The United States Code Annotated	8	(5)
Practice Tip: Researching Statutory Law	8	(3)
Problem 1.1: Finding Statutes	11	(1)
Practice Tip: Use the Definitions Section	11	(1)
Problem 1.2: Applying Statutory Language	12	(1)
b) Legislative History: The U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News	13	(2)
Practice Tip: Use Congressional Committee Reports	14	(1)
c) Regulations: The Code of Federal Regulations	15	(9)
Problem 1.3: Applying Regulatory Language	24	(1)
d) Case Law 24 Alabama Power Company, et al. v. Costle	24	(5)
Problem 1.4: Judicial Review of Regulations	29	(1)
e) Regulatory Preambles: The Federal Register	29	(10)
Practice Tip: Locating the Proposed Rule	31	(8)
Problem 1.5: Using Regulatory Preambles	39	(1)
f) Agency Guidance Documents	39	(4)
Problem 1.6: Using Agency Guidance	42	(1)
Practice Tip: Using EPA Hotlines	43	(1)
g) On-Line Research Guide	43	(9)
2. Complying with the Clean Air Act's New Source Performance Standard Program	52	(9)
Problem 1.7: Finding and Applying Statutes	52	(1)
Problem 1.8: Finding and Applying Legislative History	53	(1)
Problem 1.9: Finding and Applying Regulations	53	(1)
Problem 1.10: Applying Case Law	53	(1)
ASARCO Inc. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	54	(4)
Problem 1.11: Finding and Applying Regulatory Preambles	58	(1)
Exercise 1.1: Counseling a Client on a New Source Performance Standard Issue	58	(3)
C. Counseling Clients When the Law Is Ambiguous	61	(10)
Dana, Environmental Lawyers and the Public Service Model of Lawyering	61	(1)
Problem 1.12: Role as Counselor	62	(1)
Problem 1.13: Prevalence of Public Service Model	63	(1)
Problem 1.14: Effectiveness of Public Service Model	63	(1)
American Bar Association, Model Rules of Professional Conduct (2003)	63	(4)
Problem 1.15: Questionable Interpretation	67	(1)
Problem 1.16: Going Over the Client's Head	67	(1)
Problem 1.17: Confidentiality	67	(1)
Problem 1.18: Moral/Ethical Considerations	68	(1)
Futrell, Environmental Ethics, Legal Ethics, and Codes of Professional Conduct	68	(1)
Problem 1.19: Adequacy of Rules	69	(1)
Exercise 1.2: Counseling a Client with Respect to an Ambiguous Regulation	69	(2)
Chapter II Environmental Enforcement	71	(104)
A. Introduction: The Lawyer's Role in Environmental Enforcement	71	(2)
B. Agency Enforcement	73	(28)
1. The Federal-State Relationship	77	(7)
HARMON INDUSTRIES, INC., v. CAROL M. BROWNER, Admin., U.S. EPA	78	(5)
Problem 2.1 Quality Wood Products: RCRA	83	(1)
2. The Enforcement Process	84	(15)
a. Self Reporting Obligations	84	(1)
Problem 2.2: Self Incrimination	85	(1)
b. Self Audits and Environmental Management	85	(3)
Problem 2.3: Audit Policy	87	(1)
Practice Tip: Environmental Management Systems	88	(1)
c. Inspections	88	(8)
Problem 2.4: Inspection Authority	90	(1)
V-1 Oil Company v State of Wyoming, Department of Environmental Quality	90	(5)
Practice Tip: Inspections	95	(1)
d. Types of Enforcement Actions	96	(3)
i) Informal Action.	96	(1)
ii) Notice of Violation (NOV).	96	(1)
iii) Administrative Order (AO).	97	(1)
Practice Tip: Model Administrative Orders	97	(1)
iv) Administrative Penalty.	97	(1)
v) Civil Suit.	98	(1)
Practice Tip: Administrative vs. Civil Actions	98	(1)
vi) Criminal Penalties.	99	(1)
3. Administrative Practice	99	(2)
Practice Tip: Environmental Appeals Board Procedures	101	(1)
C. Sources of Law	101	(9)
1. Enforcement Response Policies	101	(6)
a) Base Penalty	102	(1)
b) Adjustment Factors	103	(1)
c) Per-Day Penalties	104	(1)
d) Environmentally Beneficial Expenditures or
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)	104	(2)
Supplemental Environmental Projects: Criteria	106	(1)
2. Case Law	107	(3)
a) Unpublished Opinions	107	(1)
b) Administrative Opinions	107	(3)
Practice Tip: Finding Opinions	108	(1)
Problem 2.5: Applying Case Law and Policy	108	(2)
D. Practice Considerations	110	(32)
1. Enforcement Issues	110	(32)
a) Defenses	110	(10)
Problem 2.6: Developing Defenses	112	(1)
SOLID WASTE AGENCY OF NORTHERN COOK COUNTY v. UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, et al.	113	(7)
b) Penalty Amounts	120	(1)
c) Other Issues	121	(21)
Exercise 2.1: Agra Enterprises-EPCRA	121	(4)
Exercise 2.1(a): Fact Investigation	125	(1)
Practice Tip: Legal Interviewing	125	(1)
Exercise 2.1(b): Drafting the Administrative Complaint	126	(1)
Exercise 2.1(c): Settlement Negotiation	126	(16)
E. Citizen Suit Enforcement	142	(33)
1. Information Gathering	142	(7)
Practice Tip: Protecting Confidential Information	146	(2)
Exercise 2.2: Citizen Enforcement of the Clean Water Act: Pork Unlimited	148	(1)
Exercise 2.2(a): Information Request	148	(1)
2. Litigation Issues	149	(29)
a) Pre-Suit Notice	149	(1)
Exercise 2.2(b): Drafting the Notice Letter	149	(1)
b) Diligent Prosecution	150	(6)
Problem 2.7: Diligent Prosecution	151	(1)
Comfort Lake Association, Inc., v. Dresel Contracting, Inc.	151	(5)
c) Standing	156	(2)
d) "In Violation" Issue	158	(9)
Steel Company v. Citizens for a Better Environment	158	(9)
Problem 2.8: Standing	167	(1)
e) Potential Recovery	167	(4)
Problem 2.9: Settlement	167	(1)
Sierra Club, Inc. v. Electronic Controls Design, Inc.	168	(3)
f) Suits Against the EPA or State Agency	171	(7)
Practice Tip: Political Pressure	172	(1)
Exercise 2.2(c): Drafting the Complaint	173	(2)
Chapter III Environmental Litigation	175	(60)
A. Introduction: The Lawyer's Role in Environmental Litigation	175	(3)
B. Practice Issues in Superfund Litigation	178	(40)
1. The Superfund Remediation Process	178	(3)
a) Removal Action	179	(1)
b) Site Investigation	180	(1)
c) Information Gathering	180	(1)
d) Hazard Ranking System ("HRS")	180	(1)
e) National Priorities List	180	(1)
f) Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study	181	(1)
g) Record of Decision	181	(1)
2. The Superfund Liability Scheme	181	(11)
The Shenandoah Superfund Site	183	(5)
Problem 3.1: Hazard Ranking System/NPL Listing	188	(1)
Practice Tip: Hiring Consultants	189	(1)
Exercise 3.1: Joint Defense Agreement	190	(2)
3. Superfund Litigation Issues	192	(26)
a) Section 107 Liability	193	(6)
Problem 3.2: Section 107 Elements of Liability	193	(1)
United States v. Alcan Aluminum Corp.	194	(5)
b) Joint and Several Liability	199	(1)
Problem 3.3: Joint and Several Liability	199	(1)
c) Consistency with the NCP	200	(5)
United States v. Chapman	200	(4)
Problem 3.4: NCP Consistency	204	(1)
d) Choice of Remedy	205	(1)
Problem 3.5: Choice of Remedy	206	(1)
e) 107(b) Defenses	206	(1)
Problem 3.6: Third Party Defenses	207	(1)
f) Statute of Limitations	207	(11)
Problem 3.7: Statute of Limitations	208	(1)
Jerry L. Anderson, The Hazardous Waste Land	208	(10)
C. Substantive Litigation Issues	218	(10)
1. Successor Liability	218	(2)
Exercise 3.2(a): Summary Judgment Motion Successor Liability	220	(1)
2. Municipal Solid Waste	220	(2)
Exercise 3.2(b): Summary Judgment Motion Municipal Waste	222	(1)
3. Interim Landowner Liability	222	(1)
Exercise 3.2(c): Summary Judgment Motion Interim Landowner	223	(1)
4. Innocent Landowner	223	(2)
Exercise 3.2(d): Summary Judgment Motion Innocent Landowner	225	(1)
5. Individual Liability	225	(2)
Exercise 3.2(e): Summary Judgment Motion Individual Liability	226	(1)
6. Section 106 Penalties	227	(3)
Exercise 3.2(f): Summary Judgment Motion Section 106 Liability	228	(1)
D. Superfund Cost Allocation	228	(2)
E. Settlement	230	(5)
Exercise 3.3: Cost Allocations	232	(3)
Chapter IV Environmental Policy	235	(68)
A. Introduction: The Lawyer's Role in Environmental Policy	235	(1)
B. The Federal Rulemaking Process	236	(6)
1. Administrative Procedure Act Requirements	236	(3)
(a) The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking	237	(1)
Problem 4.1: Publication Requirement	237	(1)
(b) Public Comment on the Proposed Rule	238	(1)
Problem 4.2: Holding Hearings	238	(1)
(c) The Final Rule	238	(1)
Problem 4.3: Timing of Final Rule	239	(1)
2. Optional Procedures Prior to the Proposal	239	(2)
(a) Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking	239	(1)
Problem 4.4: When to Employ an ANPR	240	(1)
(b) Negotiated Rulemaking	240	(1)
Problem 4.5: Why Use Negotiated Rulemaking	241	(1)
3. Statute-Specific Procedures	241	(1)
Problem 4.6: Public Hearing Requirement	241	(1)
Problem 4.7: Hearing Procedure	242	(1)
C. The Lawyer's Involvement in the Rulemaking Process	242	(37)
1. Initiating Rulemaking	243	(31)
(a) Suing the Agency to Enforce Statutory Deadlines	243	(1)
Problem 4.8: Forcing EPA to Initiate Rulemaking	243	(1)
(b) Petitioning the Agency for the Issuance of a Rule	243	(1)
Problem 4.9: Petitioning for Issuance of a TSCA Rule	244	(1)
(c) Suing the Agency to Enforce Notice and Comment Rulemaking Requirements	244	(30)
(i) The Exception for Interpretative Rules	246	(1)
Tabb Lakes, Ltd. v. United States	247	(1)
Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook Country v. United States Army Corps of Engineers	250	(1)
Problem 4.10: Legislative/Interpretive Rule	255	(1)
(ii) The Exception for "General Statements of Policy"	255	(1)
General Electric Power Company v.
Environmental Protection Agency	256	(1)
Brock v. Cathedral Bluffs Shale Oil Co.	260	(1)
Problem 4.11: General Statements of Policy Exception	265	(1)
(iii) The Exception for Rules of "Agency Organization, Procedure or Practice"	265	(1)
Waste Management, Inc. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency	266	(1)
Batterton v Marshall	270	(1)
Problem 4.12: Procedural Rule Exception	273	(1)
(iv) The "Good Cause" Exception	274	(1)
2. Participating in the Rulemaking Process	274	(3)
Practice Tip: Making Contact with the EPA	275	(1)
Practice Tip: Work Closely with Technical Staff	276	(1)
3. Challenging a Final Rule in Court	277	(2)
Problem 4.13: Challenging a Regulation	278	(1)
D. Introduction to the Environmental Justice Movement	279	(24)
1. Facts About the Discriminatory Siting of Facilities	280	(2)
2. Federal Actions to Promote Environmental Justice	282	(1)
3. Environmental Justice Litigation	283	(20)
Interim Guidance for Investigating Title VI Administrative Complaints Challenging Permits	287	(12)
Problem 4.14: Parties to Complaint	299	(1)
Problem 4.15: OCR Procedures	299	(1)
Problem 4.16: Timing of Complaint	299	(1)
Problem 4.17: Investigation of Complaint	299	(1)
Problem 4.18: Mitigation	300	(1)
Problem 4.19: Justification	300	(1)
Exercise 4.1: Drafting Comments on the EPA's Interim Title VI Guidance	300	(1)
Exercise 4.2: Representing Your Client at a Public Hearing	301	(2)
Appendix In the Matter of GEC Precision Corporation	303	(16)
Index	319