USOR Site PRP Group v. A & M Contractors, Inc.

275 F. Supp. 3d 808
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedAugust 2, 2017
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 4:14-CV-2441
StatusPublished

This text of 275 F. Supp. 3d 808 (USOR Site PRP Group v. A & M Contractors, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
USOR Site PRP Group v. A & M Contractors, Inc., 275 F. Supp. 3d 808 (S.D. Tex. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

• Kenneth M. Hoyt, United States District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Before the Court is USOR’s amended motion for summary judgment and the defendant, the City of Pasadena’s, cross-motion for summary judgment1. The Court notes that it has issued an omnibus memorandum opinion identifying and discussing undisputed facts and as well, the rudiments of the applicable law, associated solely with the issue of liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) and the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (“TSDWA”). With that memorandum opinion in place and the issue of general liability resolved, the Court will hereafter addresses USOR’s amended motion for summary judgment [DE#3286] and the' City’s cross-motion for summary judgment [DE# 3758].

II. JURISDICTIONAL BASES

. This suit was filed by USOR to collect response costs and expenses due to alleged environmental contamination at the U. S. Oil Recovery Superfund Site (“USOR Site”) and the MCC Recycling Facility located at 200 N. Richey and 400 N. Richey in Pasadena, Texas respectively. On August 14, 2014, the USOR filed this complaint against hundreds of defendants asserting that they are collectively responsible, under federal and state law, for response costs and expenses associated with remediating environmental contamination at the identified USOR Sites.

Since the original complaint was filed, the USOR has amended its suit on two occasions, the last on August 1, 2016. The USOR seeks, contribution, cost recovery that has occurred or will occur, and declaratory relief under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) and cost recovery under the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act (“TSWDA”). See [42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et. seq.; Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 361.001 et. seq., respectively]. This Court has jurisdiction to entertain the issues raised by the USOR under both CERCLA and TSWDA.

III.HISTORICAL BACKGROUND INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD

The USOR consists of firms, corporations, associations, and/or partnerships. The EPA has determined thát the members of the USOR are “persons” as defínéd by Section 101(21) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(21). See (a) [Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations “c,” p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 7) ]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 28 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 8)]; and, (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶ 23 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 6) ]. Likewise, TCEQ has determined that the mem[812]*812bers of the USOR are “persons” as defined by Section 361.003(23) of the TSWDA for purposes of USOR’s action under Section 361.344 of the TSWDA, TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 361.003(23). See [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3)].

The members of the USOR are respondents to Removal Action AOC, AOI-1 RI/FS AOC, and Second Removal Action AOC. The USOR is conducting response activities at the USOR Site. See generally (a) [Removal Action AOC (Dkt. No. 1429-1)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC (Dkt. Nos. 1429-1 and 1429-2) ]; (c) [Second Removal Action AOC (Dkt. Nos. 3187-1 and 3187-2)]; and, (d) [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3) ].

The USOR Site consists of approximately 18 acres, located generally at the US Oil Recovery facility at 400 N. Richey Street and the MCC Recycling facility at 200 N. Richey Street in Pasadena, Texas, and EPA has determined the USOR Site is a “facility” as defined in Section 101(9) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(9). See (a) [Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action, U.S. EPA Region 6, CERCLA Docket No. 06-10-11, effective August 25, 2011 (“Removal Action AOC”), Definition “p.” at p.3, Finding of Fact “a.” at p.4, and Conclusion of Law and Determination “a.” at p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 3, 4, 7) ]2; (b) [Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, U.S. EPA Region 6, CERC-LA Docket No. 06-03-15 (“AOI-1 RI/FS AOC”), Definition “u.” at p.5, Finding of Fact p.6, ¶ 13, and Conclusions of Law and Determinations at p.8, ¶25 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 5, 6, 8) ]3; and, (c) [Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action, U.S. EPA Region 6, CERCLA Docket No. 06-11-16 (“Second Removal Action AOC”), at Definition “s.” at p.4, Finding of Fact “a.” at p.4, and Conclusions of Law and Determinations, at p.6, ¶ 20 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 4, 6) ].4

The USOR Site was an oil processing and waste treatment facility that received and performed pretreatment of municipal and industrial Class I and Class II waste-water, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal solid waste. See (a) [Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact “a” and “c” at p.4 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 4)]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC, Findings of Fact 13 and 15 at p.6 (Dkt. No. 1429-2 at 6) ]; and, (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact ¶ 11 at p.5 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 5) ]. The EPA has determined that there has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances from the USOR Site as defined by Section 101(22) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(22). See [ (a) Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact “k.”—“r.” at p.6, and Conclusion of Law and Determination “b.” and “e.” at p.7 (Dkt. No. 1429-1, at 6, 7) ]; (b) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶¶ 26-27 (Dkt. No. 1429-2, at 8)]; (c) [Second Removal Action AOC, Findings of Fact ¶¶ 12-14, Conclusions of Law and Determinations ¶¶ 21-22 (Dkt. No. 3187-1, at 5-6)]; and (d) [EPA, Designation of Hazardous Substances, 40 CFR § 302.4 (Dkt. No. 1431-4) ].5

[813]*813The TCEQ has also determined that there has been a release or threatened release from the USOR Site as defined by Section 361.003(28) of the TSWDA for purposes of USOR’s action under Section 361.344 of the TSWDA, TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 361.003(28). See [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3) ].6 Moreover, it has approved the USOR Site PRP Group’s response activities as the USOR Site. See [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3) ].

The USOR Site PRP Group has incurred and will continue to incur'response costs as a result of the release or threatened release of hazardous substances and solid waste at the USOR Site. See (a) [Affidavit of Joe Biss dated October 26, 2016 (Dkt. No. 3187-4) ]7; (b) [Removal Action AOC (Dkt. No. 1429-1) ]; (c) [AOI-1 RI/FS AOC (Dkt. Nos. 1429-1 and 1429-2) ]; (d) [Second Removal Action AOC (Dkt. Nos. 3187-1 and 3187-2) ]; and (e) [TCEQ Approval Letter (Dkt. No. 3187-3)].

The EPA has determined that the USOR’s response costs are necessary to address the release or threatened release of hazardous substances from the USOR Site. See

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Bluebook (online)
275 F. Supp. 3d 808, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/usor-site-prp-group-v-a-m-contractors-inc-txsd-2017.