Opinion ID: 852409
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: IDEM's Authority to Approve Risk-Based Cleanups

Text: Because we hold that under AOPA the Agreed Order does not support a claim for damages, we need not decide whether public policy precludes the construction of the Agreed Order urged by Raybestos. However, because the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's judgment on this issue, we briefly turn to IDEM's authority to order risk-based cleanups, cleanups above or below the numerical level set by regulation. [2] The Court of Appeals concluded that IDEM lacked authority to approve a cleanup level that did not meet the applicable federal standard of 10 ppm. For this conclusion, the Court of Appeals relied on the federal PCB Spill Cleanup Policy, 40 C.F.R. §§ 761.120-761.135 (2008), which provides that [s]oil contaminated by the spill will be decontaminated to 10 ppm. Id. § 761.125(c)(4)(v). Even if applicable to this cleanup, [3] that policy also gives EPA flexibility to allow less stringent or alternative decontamination measures based upon site-specific considerations. [4] Id. § 761.120(c). We agree with Raybestos that the policy therefore does not constrain IDEM from agreeing to less stringent measures.