FEATURE ARTICLE
Activists’ Suit Seeking to Challenge State Water Quality Certifications Likely to Fall Short by Parker Moore and Richard Davis, Beveridge and Diamond, P.C., Washington, D.C.67
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties and Sanctions71
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
Second Circuit Holds Declaratory Judgment Is Proper to Determine Liability for Future Cleanup Costs under CERCLA75
Solvent Chemical Company, Inc. v. Olin Corporation, ___F.3d___, Case Nos. 10-2026, 10-2166, 10-2383 (2nd Cir. Dec. 19, 2011).
District Court:
District Court Finds EPA Is Responsible for Approving Section 303 Lists of Impaired Bodies of Water under the Clean Water Act77
Barnum Timber Co. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No, C 08-01988 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 16, 2011).
District Court Dismisses State Law Claims on Notice Grounds—Denies Motion to Dismiss CERCLA and RCRA Claims79
Fitzgibbons v. City of Oswego, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 5:10-CV-1038 (N.D. N.Y. Dec. 13, 2011).
District Court Holds State Complaint which Does Not Pursue CWA Enforcement of Selenium Mining Limits Cannot Meet ‘Diligent Prosecution’ Requirements82
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Inc. v. Patriot Coal Corporation, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 3:11-0115 (S.D. W.V. Dec. 7, 2011).
District Court Holds CERCLA Contribution Claim Is Exclusive Remedy for PRP Who Incurs Judgment-Compelled Cleanup Costs84
State of Tennessee v. Roane/Third Party Plaintiffs Holdings Limited, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 3:10-CV-467 (E.D. Ten. Dec. 14, 2011).
District Court Finds the Doctrine of Successor Liability Applies in a Clean Air Act Suit86
U.S. v. Louisiana Generating, LLC, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 09-100-JJB-CN (M.D. La. Dec. 1, 2011).
‘Act of God’ and ‘Third Party’ Defenses Not Available to Current Owner of Superfund Site Who Knew of Prior Site Contamination88
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Toxic Substances Control v. Sterling Centre Corp Inc., ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 2:08–CV–02556 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 8, 2011).
District Court Finds State’s Clean Air Act SIP Requires Agencies to Apply Reasonably Available Control Technology to GHG Emissions from Oil Refineries90
Washington Environmental Council v. Sturdevant, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. C11-417 MJP (W.D. Wash. Dec. 1, 2011).
RECENT STATE DECISIONS
California Court of Appeal Finds No Vested Right to Emit Air Pollution—Also Holds State Air Programs Not Preempted by Clean Air Act92
Hardesty v. Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, ___Cal.App.4th___, Case No. C065784 (Cal. App. 3rd Dist. Dec. 27, 2011).
