Source: http://tx.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20170721_0001249.STX.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-07-20 14:34:02
Document Index: 268781326

Matched Legal Cases: ['§9601', '§ 361', '§ 9601', '§ 361', '§ 9601', '§ 9601', '§ 302', '§ 361']

A&M CONTRACTORS, INC., et al, Defendants.
Before the Court is the defendant, Atlas Texas Food & Beverages, LLC ("Atlas") motion for summary judgment filed against the plaintiff, USOR Site PRP Group ("USOR")[1]. The Court notes that it has issued an omnibus memorandum opinion identifying and discussing undisputed facts and as well, the rudiments of the applicable law, associated solely with the issue of liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") and the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act ("TSDWA"). See [DE# 3890]. With that memorandum opinion in place and the issue of general liability resolved, the Court will hereafter addresses Atlas' motion for summary judgment [DE# 3202].
This suit was filed by USOR to collect response costs and expenses due to alleged environmental contamination at the U.S. Oil Recovery Superfund Site ("USOR Site") and the MCC Recycling Facility located at 200 N. Richey and 400 N. Richey in Pasadena, Texas respectively. On August 14, 2014, the USOR filed this complaint against hundreds of defendants asserting that they are collectively responsible, under federal and state law, for response costs and expenses associated with remediating environmental contamination at the identified USOR Sites.
Since the original complaint was filed, the USOR has amended its suit on two occasions, the last on August 1, 2016. The USOR seeks contribution, cost recovery that has occurred or will occur, and declaratory relief under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") and cost recovery under the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act ("TSWDA"). See [42 U.S.C. §§9601 et. seq; Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.001 et. seq., respectively]. This Court has jurisdiction to entertain the issues raised by the USOR under both CERCLA and TSWDA.
III. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND INCLUDING ADMINISTRATD7E RECORD
The USOR consists of firms, corporations, associations, and/or partnerships. The EPA has determined that the members of the USOR are "persons" as defined by Section 101(21) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(21). See (a) [Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations "c, " p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 7)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 28 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 8)]; and, (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 23 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 6)]. Likewise, TCEQ has determined that the members of the USOR are "persons" as defined by Section 361.003(23) of the TSWDA for purposes of USOR's action under Section 361.344 of the TSWDA, TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 361.003(23). See [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3)].
The USOR Site consists of approximately 18 acres, located generally at the U.S. Oil Recovery facility at 400 N. Richey Street and the MCC Recycling facility at 200 N. Richey Street in Pasadena, Texas, and EPA has determined the USOR Site is a "facility" as defined in Section 101(9) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(9). See (a) [Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action, U.S. EPA Region 6, CERCLA Docket No. 06-10-11, effective August 25, 2011 ("Removal Action AOC"), Definition "p." at p.3, Finding of Fact "a." at p.4, and Conclusion of Law and Determination "a." at p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 3, 4, 7)][2]; (b) [Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, U.S. EPA Region 6, CERCLA Docket No. 06-03-15 ("AOI-1 RI/FS AOC"), Definition "u" at p.5, Finding of Fact p.6, ¶ 13, and Conclusions of Law and Determinations at p.8, ¶ 25 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 5, 6, 8)][3]; and, (c) [Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action, U.S. EPA Region 6, CERCLA Docket No. 06-11-16 ("Second Removal Action AOC"), at Definition "s." at p.4, Finding of Fact "a." at p.4, and Conclusions of Law and Determinations, at p.6, ¶ 20 (Dkt. No. 3187-l, at4, 6)].[4]
The USOR Site was an oil processing and waste treatment facility that received and performed pretreatment of municipal and industrial Class I and Class II wastewater, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal solid waste. See (a) [Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact "a" and "c" at p.4 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 4)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC, Findings of Fact 13 and 15 at p.6 (Dkt. No. 1429-2 at 6)]; and, (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact ¶ 11 at p.5 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 5)]. The EPA has determined that there has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances from the USOR Site as defined by Section 101(22) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(22). See [(a) Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact "k." - "r." at p.6, and Conclusion of Law and Determination "b." and "e." at p. 7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 6, 7)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶¶ 26-27 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 8)]; (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact ¶¶ 12-14, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶¶ 21-22 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 5-6)]; and (d) [EPA, Designation of Hazardous Substances, 40 CFR § 302.4 (Dkt. No. 1431-4)].[5]
The TCEQ has also determined that there has been a release or threatened release from the USOR Site as defined by Section 361.003(28) of the TSWDA for purposes of USOR's action under Section 361.344 of the TSWDA, TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 361.003(28). See [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3)].[6] Moreover, it has approved the USOR Site PRP Group's response activities as the USOR Site. See [TCEQ Approval Letter [Dkt. No. 3187-3)]. The USOR Site PRP Group has incurred and will continue to incur response costs as a result of the release or threatened release of hazardous substances and solid waste at the USOR Site. See (a) [Affidavit of Joe Biss dated October 26, 2016 (Dkt. No. 3187-4)][7]; (b) [Removal Action AOC (Dkt. No. 1429-1)]; (c) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC (Dkt. Nos. 1429-1 and 1429-2)]; (d) [Second Removal Action AOC (Dkt. Nos. 3187-1 and 3187-2)]; and (e) [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3)].
The EPA has determined that the USOR's response costs are necessary to address the release or threatened release of hazardous substances from the USOR Site. See (a) [Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations "f, " p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 7)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶¶ 30-31 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 8)]; and (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 25 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 6-7)]. As well, TCEQ has determined that the USOR's response costs are necessary to address the release or threatened release of solid waste from the USOR Site. See [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3)]. The EPA has also determined that the USOR's response costs are consistent with the National Contingency Plan ("NCP"). See (a) [Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations "f, " p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 7)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 31 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 8)]; (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 25 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 6-7)]. The Court adopts the EPA's findings as to response costs necessity and consistency.