Opinion ID: 2536409
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Groundwater remediation

Text: Plaintiffs make two arguments in support of their claim that Exxon is liable for groundwater remediation. First, they argue that the Exxon's operations have contaminated a Class II aquifer, and as such, the Groundwater Act applies pursuant to which Exxon must deposit $199,129,592.00 into the registry of the court to be used exclusively to remediate the usable groundwater. [24] Second, they argue that even if the aquifer is a Class III aquifer to which the Groundwater Act does not apply, the groundwater must still be remediated to its original condition under Castex. Plaintiffs claim that restoration of groundwater to original condition will cost $199,129,592, and restoration to regulatory compliance will cost $124,716,219. The Groundwater Act applies to usable groundwater. La. R.S. 30:2015.1 J(1). In order to qualify as usable groundwater, the groundwater must be classified as a Class II aquifer. Usable groundwater is defined as a Groundwater Classification I (an aquifer that is a primary drinking water source or is directly connected with a drinking water source) or a Groundwater Classification II (an aquifer that is an agricultural supply, domestic supply, or any other supply source). La. R.S. 30:2015.1 J(1); La. Dep't of Envtl. Quality RECAP Regulations § 2.10 at 49-51 (Oct. 20, 2003). A Groundwater Classification III aquifer is an aquifer with a maximum sustainable yield of less than 800 gallons per day and is considered non-usable. After considering extensive expert witness testimony, the trial court found that the groundwater bearing zone beneath the Marin and Breaux properties is a Class III aquifer. In this case, the expert testimony was conflicting, with plaintiffs' experts testifying that it was a Class II aquifer, and defendant's experts testifying it was a Class III aquifer. The trial court accepted the testimony of Dr. David Angle that the aquifer was a Class III aquifer. Dr. Angle testified that, after a review of studies done by plaintiffs' expert, the water bearing zone beneath plaintiffs' property was a confined aquifer that was 24 feet thick, and that the soil was not very permeable. He further testified that plaintiffs' experts pump test established that it was not scientifically possible for the aquifer's maximum sustainable yield to equal or exceed 800 gallons per day and that the well ran dry after 65 minutes. Based on the above, Dr. Angle testified that it was a Class III aquifer. The trial court's reliance on this testimony to find it was a Class III aquifer was not manifestly erroneous. Findings of fact are subject to the manifest error standard of review, and where the finder of fact credited one witness's testimony over another, that finding can never be manifestly wrong.