Opinion ID: 6927857
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Statutory Regime

Text: It will most often be true that the general aims and policies of a controlling statute will be evident from its text. United States v. Gaubert, 499 U.S. 315, -, 111 S.Ct. 1267, 1274, 113 L.Ed.2d 335 (1991). It is evident from CERCLA’s text that CERCLA’s purpose is to enable the executive branch (i.e., the EPA) to target and clean up hazardous waste sites in an efficient manner; and the Superfund amendments of 1986 [SARA] have undoubtedly clarified and strengthened the executive’s CERCLA responsibilities and authority. See J.V. Peters & Co., Inc. v. Administrator, EPA, 767 F.2d 263, 264 (6th Cir.1985). In order to effectuate CERCLA’s purposes, Congress delegated very broad powers to the EPA — for the agency to reasonably interpret the CERCLA statutory scheme and respond to hazardous substance scenarios in accordance with such interpretation. In particular, the EPA is under the broad statutory obligation to expeditiously react to any release or threatened release of hazardous substances that may pose harm to the public health, welfare or to the environment. CERCLA, § 101(23), 42 U.S.C. § 9601(23) (emphasis added). There are two types of CERCLA reactions, or responses, envisioned by the statute: (1) removal actions, or interim measures like the AWS at issue in this ease; and (2) remedial, or permanent measures. “Removal actions” are defined as actions designed to effect an interim solution to a contamination problem, but very vaguely: “remove” or “removal” means the cleanup or removal of released hazardous substances from the environment, such actions as may be necessary taken in the event of the threat of release of hazardous substances into the environment, such actions as may be necessary to monitor, assess, and evaluate the release or threat of release of hazardous substances, the disposal of removed material, or the taking of such other actions as may be necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate damage to the public health or welfare or to the environment, which may otherwise result from a release or threat of release. The term includes, in addition, without being limited to, security fencing or other measures to limit access, provision of alternate water supplies, temporary evacuation and housing of threatened individuals not otherwise provided for, action taken under section 9604(b) of this title, and any emergency assistance which may be provided under the Disaster Relief and Assistance Act. CERCLA, § 101(23), 42 U.S.C. § 9601(23) (emphasis added). See also National Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. § 300.6 (Definitions) (1986). “Remedial actions” are defined as actions designed to effect a permanent solution to the contamination problem, but they are defined just as vaguely: “remedy” or “remedial action” means those actions consistent with permanent remedy taken instead of or in addition to removal actions in the event of a release or threatened release of hazardous substance into the environment, to prevent or mini mize the release of hazardous substances so that they do not migrate to cause substantial danger to present or future public health or welfare or the environment. The term includes, but is not limited to, such actions at the location of the release as storage, confinement, perimeter protection using dikes, trenches, or ditches, clay cover, neutralization, cleanup of released hazardous substances or contaminated materials, recycling or reuse, diversion, destruction, segregation of reactive wastes, dredging or excavations, repair or replacement of leaking containers, collection of leachate and runoff, onsite treatment or incineration, provision of alternative water supplies, and any monitoring reasonably required to assure that such actions protect the public health and welfare and the environment. CERCLA, § 101(24), 42 U.S.C. § 9601(24) (emphasis added). See also National Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. § 300.6 (Definitions) (1986). CERCLA provides some much more specific requirements for the EPA’s response actions, as well. For example, where groundwater is contaminated by chromium, the maximum contaminant levels allowed by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C. 300f, are “applicable or relevant and appropriate standards,” for agency decision-making if the groundwater is a potential drinking water supply. 42 U.S.C. § 9621(d)(2)(A). Chromium is one element for which maximum concentration limits (“MCLs”) were set under the SDWA. CERCLA nonetheless defines a “potential drinking water supply” quite broadly — as “any raw or finished water source that is or may be used by a public water system    or as drinking water by one or more individuals. 42 U.S.C. § 9601(7) (emphasis added). 6 Clearly, the agency’s determination that the sole source, Trinity Aquifer falls within the statute’s drinking water supply definition was not arbitrary or capricious, and reflects a reasonable construction and implementation of the EPA’s broad CERC-LA enforcement license.