CRV Enterprises, Inc. v. United States

86 Fed. Cl. 758, 2009 U.S. Claims LEXIS 105, 2009 WL 1220579
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedApril 30, 2009
DocketNo. 06-660L
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 86 Fed. Cl. 758 (CRV Enterprises, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CRV Enterprises, Inc. v. United States, 86 Fed. Cl. 758, 2009 U.S. Claims LEXIS 105, 2009 WL 1220579 (uscfc 2009).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND FINAL ORDER OF DISMISSAL

SUSAN G. BRADEN, Judge.

I. RELEVANT FACTUAL BACKGROUND.1

The Old Mormon Slough (“OMS”) is a man-made waterway, approximately 2500-[760]*760feet long and 180-feet wide, located in Stockton, California, about fifty miles south of Sacramento. See Gov’t Ex. 20 at DOJ 203. The OMS connects to the Stockton Deep Water Channel that, in turn, connects to the San Joaquin River. See 4/11/2008 Patton Decl. Ex. 5. Ships can reach the San Francisco Bay via the Stockton Deep Water Channel and the San Joaquin River. See 4/11/2008 Voorhees Decl. ¶ 6.

Directly south of the OMS is the former site of the McCormick & Baxter Creosoting Company (“M & B”), a wood-preserving operation. See Gov’t Ex. 20 at DOJ 201. From 1976 to 1990, the State of California repeatedly found that M & B illegally discharged hazardous chemicals into the OMS. Id. at DOJ 204-06. In 1990, M & B ceased operations. Id. at DOJ 206.

In October 1992, the M & B site was added to the National Priorities List, authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to use resources appropriated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act for environmental clean-up projects. See Gov’t Ex. 12 at DOJ 32-33. Subsequently, the EPA conducted several removal actions to stabilize environmental conditions at the M & B site, improve security, and demolish and dispose of aboveground structures and equipment. See Gov’t Ex. 20 at DOJ 206.

During 1996 and 1997, the EPA installed a sheet piling wall along the southwestern shoreline of the OMS to control oil seepage. Id. The EPA also excavated roughly 12,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the pond area and covered the central processing area with an asphalt cap. Id.

In July 1998, the EPA issued a draft Surface Water-Sediment Feasibility Study Report for the M & B site for public comment. See Gov’t Ex. 17 at DOJ 77. The public comment period closed on November 16, 1998. See Gov’t Ex. 19 at DOJ 183.

In January 1999, the EPA issued a final Surface Water-Sediment Feasibility Study Report for the M & B site (“1999 Water-Sediment Report”). See Gov’t Ex. 20 at DOJ 184. The 1999 Water-Sediment Report concluded that sediment contamination in the OMS, from toxic runoff at the M & B site, posed a potential risk to human health.

If sediment contamination in Old Mormon Slough is not addressed, it will continue to present a risk to ecological receptors, and to human receptors who consume significant quantities of certain fish species[.] ... [Potential human health risks have been identified related to soil and groundwater contamination.... If not addressed, contaminated soil and groundwater will continue to represent potential risks to site workers and nearby residents.

Id. at DOJ 222.

The 1999 Water-Sediment Report analyzed several possible solutions to reduce the risk of human and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals on the sediment bottom of the OMS. Id. at DOJ 250-67. On March 31, 1999, the EPA issued a Record of Decision (“ROD”), adopting Alternative SD-2 to treat contamination in the OMS. See Gov’t Ex. 21 at DOJ 358. Alterative SD-2 provided that a sand cap first would be placed over the contaminated soil to isolate areas of principal threat. See Gov’t Ex. 20 at DOJ 259-60, 268. Then, a log boom would be placed at the mouth of the OMS to cut off navigational access over the area protected by the sand cap. Id. at 268. This solution was designed to prevent inadvertent erosion or other disruptions of the sand cap by marine traffic that could expose more highly contaminated sediment. Id. at 259-60.

The property at issue in this case lies along the northern shore of the OMS, opposite from the M & B site. See Gov’t Ex. 29 at DOJ 436. On March 31, 1999, when the EPA issued the ROD, the property was owned by Bill T. Dutra, President of The Dutra Group. Id. at DOJ 429.

On September 22, 1999, the EPA advised The Dutra Group that it planned to install a [761]*761sand cap and log boom across the OMS to address contaminated sediment. See Gov’t Ex. 29 at DOJ 434. On October 20, 1999, The Dutra Group objected, because of a concern that this action would severely limit marine access to their property. Id. at DOJ 454. Instead, The Dutra Group suggested that the EPA consider dredging, as an alternative remediation solution. Id. On November 20, 2000, the EPA rejected this proposal, because it would be eleven times more expensive than the proposed remedy and no more effective. Id. at DOJ 460-61.

In the summer of 2000, C. Ryan Voo-rhees, the Director, President, and Managing Officer of CRV Enterprises, Inc. (“CRV”), became interested in The Dutra Group property, having just acquired property immediately to the north and northeast. See 4/11/2008 Voorhees Deel. ¶¶ 3, 7. On August 25, 2000, CRV entered into an Option Agreement with Bill Dutra to purchase the property. See Gov’t Ex. 29 at DOJ 441. The Option Agreement contained a “Hazardous Substances” clause that provided: “[f]or the purposes of this [Option] Agreement, the McCormick & Baxter Superfund site, opposite the Property, on Mormon Slough, the Slough itself, and the ‘Hazardous Substances’ located thereon or thereunder, shall not be considered ‘relevantly adjacent’ to the Property.” Id. at DOJ 442.

On October 1, 2001, CRV and Mr. Dutra amended the August 25, 2000 Option Agreement to allow CRV to exercise its option and close on February 1, 2002. Id. at DOJ 467. On November 29, 2001, representatives from the EPA and Mr. Dutra met with Mr. Voo-rhees to discuss the EPA’s plans for the OMS. See Gov’t Ex. 24 at DOJ 391. On January 21, 2002, however, Mr. Voorhees accused Mr. Dutra of failing to inform him of the EPA’s plans for the OMS and of planned restrictions on marine traffic. See Gov’t Ex. 26 at DOJ 426.

On January 30, 2002, the Option Agreement between CRV and Mr. Dutra again was amended. See Gov’t Ex. 29 at DOJ 468, 471. On August 26, 2002, Mr. Voorhees met with representatives of The Dutra Group and the EPA to discuss the “Permanent Post-Construction Impacts” and a “Takings Claim.” See Gov’t Ex. 27 at DOJ 427; see also Gov’t Ex. 28 at DOJ 428.

On October 28, 2002, a final Option Agreement was executed to reflect that CRV was “aware that the [Government] has taken the position that it has no legal obligation to pay damages or compensation for damage or injury to the Subject Property resulting from implementation of the Remedy[.]” Gov’t Ex. 29 at DOJ 472. In addition, CRV was assigned all “right, title and interest in and to a certain cause of action against the United States of America for damages, loss of use, and/or taking of real property arising from or relating to EPA’s implementation of the Remedy[.]” Id. at DOJ 473.

On November 8, 2002, CRV completed acquisition of the property. See Gov’t Ex. 1 at DOJ l.2 When CRV acquired this property, the entire OMS could be used by commercial barges and small to medium sized vessels, such as motor boats, sailboats, recreational fishing boats, and house boats. See 4/11/2008 Voorhees Deck ¶ 8.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
86 Fed. Cl. 758, 2009 U.S. Claims LEXIS 105, 2009 WL 1220579, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crv-enterprises-inc-v-united-states-uscfc-2009.