craig j. pritzlaff

Practical Solutions to Business Issues.

Craig J. Pritzlaff

Environmental Compliance in the Real World: Tales from an Environmental

Lawyer

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A little about myself…

• B.S. Bioenvironmental Sciences, Texas A&M

• Worked with local, state, and federal environmental authorities

• J.D. Southern Methodist University

• Adjunct Professor, Texas Christian University

• Environmental Attorney

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Common Law Liability

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Practical Solutions to Business Issues.

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The Statutes

• Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (1969)

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976)

• Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)– Amendment to TSWDA (1985)

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Solid Waste: What is it?

• Any discarded materials– Sludges?

– Gasses?

– Liquids?

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Example 1: Landfill Disposal

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Common Law Liability

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Example 2: Processing Site

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Example 3: Used Oil Recycling

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RCRA v. CERCLA

• RCRA – Cradle-to-Grave management of waste

• Generators, Transporters, TSDFs– Releases of waste from TSDFs or other active facilities

• CERCLA– Generally inactive sites– Large, legacy contamination from hazardous

substances• Petroleum exclusion (hazardous substance does not include

“petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof.”• To what extent substances in used oil are in concentrations in

excess of those found in virgin oil

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The Blame Game

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Solutions

• Recycling

• Due Diligence

• Questionnaires

• Site inspections

• Insurance

• Indemnities

• Constant vigilance

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Example 2: Release Reporting

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Reportable Spills

• OIL– Broadly defined under Clean Water Act/Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to

include petroleum and non-petroleum oils (including vegetable oil).

– Report RQ to NRC if reach navigable waters.– If facility subject to SPCC, must ALSO report to EPA.

– Under OPA, reports must be made IMMEDIATELY upon knowledge of the discharge (40 CFR 110).

– Under state law (Texas), obligation to report within 24 hours of the release (30 TAC Chapter 327).

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Reportable Spills

• HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES– CERCLA. Release of hazardous substance in excess

of RQ to or from your site must be reported IMMEDIATELY to NRC. CERCLA excludes petroleum (40 CFR 302).

– EPCRA. Releases of hazardous substances and extremely hazardous substances from your site must be reported IMMEDIATELY to SERC and LEPC (40 CFR 355).

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Reportable Quantities

• Oil (any kind) into water...VISIBLE SHEEN.

• Petroleum products onto soils or pavement….25 gallons.

• Crude oil onto soils or pavement….210 gallons.

• Crude oil into water…VISIBLE SHEEN.

• Industrial or Other Substances into water….100 pounds.

• Hazardous Substance (land, air or water)…..100-5000

gallons, depending on the substance.

Fed: 40CFR302 (CERCLA), 40CFR172.101 Appendix A (CERCLA)

State: 30TAC327 (incorporates 40CFR302)

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IMMEDIATELY

State: 800-832-8224

Does immediately under CERCLA, EPCRA and OPA mean 24 hours?

Practical Solutions to Business Issues.

Craig J. Pritzlaff

Curran Tomko Tarski LLP2001 Bryan Street, Suite 2000

Dallas, Texas 75201

214.270.1419cpritzlaff@cttlegal.com

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