Environmental Crimes Blog

Citizen Suits and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans

Enforcement by the USEPA is down by just about any metric measuring the enforcement of environmental laws. This has left an enforcement void.  But that void is being partially filled. 

Environmental groups and enterprising plaintiffs’ firms are now using the citizen suit provisions of the Clean Water Act as a business model. And it seems that California is leading the way.  Numerous sixty-day notices have been served on businesses.  In one instance, the requested damages of $200,000,000.00 are being sought. See Lunsford v. Arrowhead Brass Plumbing (No. 16-cv-08373, N.D. CA). 

The Clean Water Act authorizes citizens to hold regulated entities accountable through private actions in federal court for violations of the Clean Water Act.  Any penalties assessed against the defendant must be paid into the United States; however, the Court can also order a losing party to pay attorneys’ fees to the plaintiff’s firm that brought the case. In a lot of instances, it is nothing more than a form of legalized extortion (settlement pressure is high when there is a possibility of penalty amounts up to $51,570.00 per day).    

The latest iteration of these Clean Water Act citizen suits target rain-induced discharges that are alleged to be in violation of “general permits” that regulate a broad range of conduct contributing to stormwater runoff rather than activities unique to a specific facility. They also include allegations of deficient Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans or SWPPPs which are generally required by the general permits.  

If you receive a sixty-day citizen suit notice, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss strategies for responding to the threatened litigation.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

A Terminal goes up in Flames – Are you prepared for the Aftermath?

The news this week was on the Intercontinental Terminals Company plant in Deer Park, Texas – and it was not good news. A fire, potential air exceedances, release of water and foam used to fight the fire – in general, a huge mess.

So now what happens? Based on the premise that the only difference between a criminal violation and civil enforcement is who gets to your door first, preparation is key.

The first action should be (after making sure everyone is safe) is to begin the internal investigation to determine what happened, if there was fault who’s was it, and any potential root causes. The internal investigation will allow the entity to be a responsible corporate citizen. Other benefits will allow the entity to address liability (to agencies and third-parties), take remedial actions and figure out if there is a way to prevent future issues.

For all of this, pre-planning is a must. And a couple of things flow from this:  

1. The company should have a written policy on internal investigations. It does not have to cover the specific event; however, there should be a policy in place. 
2. The internal investigation should be structured as a legally privileged investigation and should be all-inclusive. You can always choose late to waive the privilege, but a non-privileged investigation cannot later be made privileged.
3. Are there governmental agencies/regulations/orders that require an investigation? Think the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or the Chemical Safety and Hazardous Investigation Board.
4. What will the investigation include? Will it include Root Cause Failure Analysis?
5. In line with Item 2 above, the investigation should be managed and directed by outside counsel as this will eliminate many questions regarding whether the investigation is legitimate or not.

Initial decisions impact the internal investigation through the end of the investigation. The goal should be a thorough, high-quality investigation that addresses the issues while ensuring the appropriate protections.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

A Search of a Residence in Oakland, California

I have previously blogged about the use of passwords on cell phones and how there was an issue with using finger prints of biometrics as your password (as opposed to an actual password).

Now, consider In the Matter of the Search of a Residence in Oakland, California, Case No. 4:19-mj-70053-KAW, in the United States District Court for Northern District of California. A federal magistrate judge, Judge Kandis Westmore, has ruled that law enforcement cannot force a person to unlock a mobile phone with their face or finger. Other courts have previously held that law enforcement could force a person unlock a mobile device with biometrics (fingerprints, facial recognition or irises) as biometric features, unlike passcodes, were not “testimonial.” Judge Westmore found that the government did not have the right, even with a warrant, to force suspects to incriminate themselves by unlocking a device with biometrics. The rationale seems that since a suspect would have to willingly and verbally give up a passcode, the suspect should also have to be willing to give the biometrics. A “password” has been deemed “testimony.” Body parts have not been previously deemed “testimony.”

I am sure the order will probably be appealed . . ..

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

Arkema Indictment

On August, 3, 2018, Arkema (a French chemical company), Richard Rowe (Arkema CEO) and Leslie Comardelle (Arkema’s plant manager), were indicted by a Harris County grand jury for the reckless emission of an air contaminant in violation of the Texas Water Code. A few friends have already written about the indictment (Mark L. Farley and Paige Gallaspy at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and Benjamin H. Patton and Mary M. Balaster at Reed Smith LLP). Here are links to the two blog posts:

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d7dbcb23-7887-409d-8966-573a3a50f874&utm_source=lexology+daily+newsfeed&utm_medium=html+email+-+body+-+general+section&utm_campaign=lexology+subscriber+daily+feed&utm_content=lexology+daily+newsfeed+2018-08-13&utm_term and https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7bcf0547-0738-4120-a377-9f228924ac1c&utm_source=Lexology+Daily+Newsfeed&utm_medium=HTML+email+-+Body+-+General+section&utm_campaign=Lexology+subscriber+daily+feed&utm_content=Lexology+Daily+Newsfeed+2018-08-13&utm_term=

From my perspective, this indictment continues a trend that began shortly after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks: the criminalization of industrial accidents. Could Arkema been better prepared for the after-effects of a hurricane? Perhaps. Was industry as a whole prepared? No. Interestingly, the federal agency responsible for the enforcement of the environmental laws has not criminally investigated Arkema to the point of indictment. And interestingly, the TCEQ was not involved in the investigation either. The investigation was solely that of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston Police Department’s Environmental Investigations Unit, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Environmental Crimes Division.

The company and the individuals have all retained excellent counsel. And I am sure one of the first things the counsel will do is check and see if the TCEQ was consulted.  Section 7.203 of the Texas Water Code requires a peace officer investigating an alleged environmental violation by a person who holds a permit from the TCEQ to refer the case to the commission before a criminal prosecution can begin. Tex. Water Code Ann. § 7.203 (Vernon 2010). In other words, before a peace officer may refer an alleged criminal environmental violation to a prosecuting attorney for criminal prosecution, the peace officer must notify the TCEQ in writing for the TCEQ to determine whether civil or administrative duties will adequately and appropriately address the violations. Id. A peace officer must follow this procedure anytime the alleged criminal environmental violations involve a person, or an employee of a person, who holds a permit issued by the TCEQ and the activity constituting a violation is related to the activity for which the permit was issued. Id.  

Time will tell, but if I was a betting man, I am willing to bet that this procedure was not followed.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

Grizzly Bears – Self-Defense?

On June 26, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion that reversed the trial court conviction of a Montana man who had been convicted under the criminal provisions of the Endangered Species Act for shooting and killing a grizzly bear. United States v. Charette, ___ F.3d ___, No. 17-30059 (9th Cir. June 26, 2018).

Brian Charette shot the grizzly bear as it was harassing horses in a pasture behind his rural home. The government indicted Charette on one count of “taking” a threatened species in violation of the ESA. Charette was convicted in a bench trial before a magistrate judge and the report and recommendation was affirmed by the district court. Charette then appealed. There were a number of issues raised by Charette that were rejected by the Ninth Circuit; however, ruled that there was an error in how the trial court handled the affirmative defense of self-defense.

The ESA provides, at 16 U.S.C. § 1540(b)(3), that a defense to the “taking” is “if the defendant committed the offense based on a good faith belief that he was acting to protect himself or herself, a member of his or her family, or any other individual, from bodily harm from any endangered or threatened species.” The trial court ruled that good faith must be determined using an “objectively reasonable standard.” The Ninth Circuit disagreed, holding that the standard only required a subjective belief in the need to protect oneself or others. That standard would be “satisfied when a defendant actually, even if unreasonably, believes his actions are necessary to protect himself or others from perceived danger from a grizzly bear.” As a result, the case was remanded to the trial court to make a determination in applying the subjective standard. In the original trial, Charette had elected not to testify in support of his claim of self-defense. He will now get an opportunity to rethink that decisions.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

WDJiii

The Carrot or the Stick?

When I first started practicing environmental law in 1987, I read the book “America’s Future in Toxic Waste Management: Lessons from Europe” by Bruce W. Piasecki and Gary A. Davis. In the book, they discussed the difference in philosophies between European environmental enforcement theories (the carrot) and the United States’ philosophy (the stick). 

My good friend, Brent Fewell, with the Earth and Water Group, recently posted on Facebook, regarding the current administration’s attempts to use the “carrot” approach to enforcement – that is, (and I am paraphrasing somewhat here) give non-compliers notice that they are noncompliant, give them sufficient time and the tools to come into compliance, warn them of the consequences of continued noncompliance and then if the regulated entity fails to heed the advice and take advantage of the leniency, then drop the hammer.  

Generally speaking, I am in favor of that approach. The question then becomes, how are the noncompliant entities going to come to the attention of the agency?  Inspections are down, there are fewer agency employees, federal grants to state agencies are drying up, cooperative federalism only works so far, state agencies do not have the budgetary luxury of picking up the enforcement slack.  So how will the noncompliant company come to the attention of the agency?  In some sense, this approach provides an incentive to be in noncompliance, especially if it gives the regulated entity a competitive advantage. 

On June 11, 2018, E&E News published an article entitled “Trump's EPA Turns to Less Punitive Responses to Pollution” by Mike Soraghan, E&E News reporter. In essence, the article was setting out that the “enforcement initiatives” were going to become “compliance initiatives.”  “The plan is to give state governments more authority in setting priorities for enforcement programs, according to a memo obtained by E&E News. Officials also want to remove from the priority-setting process considerations about consistency and using penalties to maintain a ‘level playing field’ for companies.”

 Observing this from my vantage point, that approach will further weaken a substantially reduced enforcement agenda. The states are simply not equipped, or qualified, to deal with issues that cross state borders or affect entire regions of the country, if not the entirety of the country.  While the oil and gas industry complained about the enforcement efforts launched after the Obama administration made "energy extraction" an enforcement priority, imagine the cacophony of the vagaries of enforcement by North Dakota, by Louisiana, by Texas, by Alaska and by Pennsylvania.  According to the article, “Inspections of ‘energy extraction’ sites dropped by one-third in EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's first fiscal year, according to EPA's website.” 

There are a plethora of issues that scream for national enforcement (clean water, drinking water, clean air). And while these areas need a national approach and an incentive approach to compliance may work, there are way too many issues to leave to state enforcement or state-only input.  Some states are unwilling to undertake enforcement against industry that supplies a significant tax employment base.  State agencies also will not consider a broader picture.  Clean water, clean air, safe drinking water and its enforcement may very well take divergent paths in different states as the different states will have different budgetary constraints as well as interests. 

The agency that watches over an industry may lose its way in its efforts to present a friendlier face. Then again, that is just my opinion. 

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

Texas Supreme Court Holds Manager Personally Liable for Environmental Penalties

This is a guest post from my good friend Jim Smith at Crain Caton.

In State of Texas v. Morello, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a mid-level appellate court and reinstated a trial court’s judgment making Bernard Morello personally liable for approximately $400,000 in civil penalties for environmental violations.

The Company’s History of Permit Violations

Morello had been the sole member and manager of White Lion Holdings, a limited liability company.  The State alleged that White Lion consistently violated its hazardous waste permit.  Based on these violations, the State received a judgement of a similar penalty amount against White Lion, which was affirmed in a separate appeal.

Morello’s Personal Involvement

The State also sued Morello, individually.  The State alleged, and the courts agreed, that Morello was the sole decision-maker for the limited liability company. Moreover, Mr. Morello personally removed water treatment equipment from the facility, and was responsible for having monitor well protective housing caps discarded. The trial court determined that this involvement was enough to make Morello personally liable for the civil penalties. Neither

“Fraud” nor “Tortious” Acts Required

The mid-level appellate court had reversed the civil penalty award as to Morello.  That court reasoned that Mr. Morello did not individually participate in tortious or fraudulent acts, and therefore, as an agent of the limited liability company that owned the facility, he could not be held individually liable.

The Texas Supreme Court rejected that argument and reversed the mid-level court. The Supreme Court examined the Texas environmental statutes and determined that the State could hold an individual liable without proving fraudulent or tortious acts by that individual.  Morello was the sole decision-maker.  He personally removed water treatment equipment and had monitoring well protective housing caps discarded.  These circumstances were enough to make Morello personally liable for the civil penalties.

Decision Makers Can Be Liable for Allowing Violations

The Supreme Court’s discussion of personal liability suggests that an individual who is the sole decision-maker for a corporation or limited liability company will generally have civil liability for the environmental violations of the entity, because Texas law states that no person shall “cause” or “allow” environmental violations.

At least as to civil penalties, individual managers should expect that they can be held liable if their decisions constitute causing or allowing violations of Texas environmental laws, even if the entity owning the facility or holding the permit is a corporation or limited liability company.

For a copy of the Supreme Court’s opinion http://www.txcourts.gov/media/1440618/160457.pdf

Thanks Jim!

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

Decrease in Enforcement under the Trump Administration

As if there was any real doubt, the New York Times (yes, derided by the current administration as fake news) reports that USEPA penalties against the regulated community “comes with an astersik.” See, Rise in E.P.A. Penalties Against Polluters Comes With an Asterisk, by Eric Lipton and Danielle, Ivory.  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/business/epa-penalties-polluters.html

Despite puffing its chest with the release of data showing “a large increase in penalties against polluters,” in fact virtually every single one of these cases was initiated under the Obama administration.

Even assuming the correctness of the old adage artfully used by Mark Twain that there are “lies, damn lies and statistics,” the numbers themselves do not lie. The Trump administration is bringing fewer enforcement cases, both civil and criminal. And this is not a trend that will reverse itself under this administration under its “cooperative federalism.” Down-streaming enforcement to the states, who in most instances, do not have the expertise, man power or money, places the public at risk.

The American public should be concerned about the lack of enforcement.  Look no further than Flint, Michigan.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii  

The Cost of Noncompliance is Now More Expensive.

On January 10, 2018, the USEPA published its annual civil monetary penalty adjustment as required by the 2015 revisions to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. https://www.environmentallawandpolicy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/452/2018/01/2018-00287.pdf  It used to be that the USEPA adjusted penalty levels for inflation once every several years. Now, the USEAP are required to adjust the penalty amounts every year.

The inflation adjustment effects all federal environmental statutes and increase the penalties for the per-day violations and the per-violation maximums. Under the adjustment civil penalties (assessed on or after January 15, 2018, for violations occurring after November 2, 2015), for example, increase as follows: CAA: from $95,284.00 to $97,229.00; CWA: from $52,414.00 to $53,484.00; and RCRA: from $71,264.00 to $72,718.00.

Remember, the cost of compliance pales in comparison to the cost of enforcement.

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii

Do You Have An International Client or Travel Out of the US?

Yes, the US customs agents demand to search attorneys’ iPhones and iPads (and other mobile devices) upon the attorney’s reentry into the country (may not happen often, but it happens often enough).  On January 4, 2018, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a new directive on searches of an attorney’s mobile devices. A portion of it deals with privileged information on an attorney’s mobile device.

Under this new directive, CBP has new procedures that an agent must use when there is data protected by the attorney-client privilege or work product exemption.  Essentially, once an attorney asserts that there is privileged information on the mobile device, the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office will get involved. The big change is that the border patrol agent cannot decide on his/her own to ignore the assertion of privilege. And it appears that the attorney may be forced to provide a full privilege log. Even after all of that, it remains unclear how CBP will deal with the privileged information. 

        5.2 Review and Handling of Privileged or Other Sensitive Material

5.2.1    Officers encountering information they identify as, or that is asserted to be, protected by the attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine shall adhere to the following procedures.

5.2.1.1    The Officer shall seek clarification, if practicable in writing, from the individual asserting this privilege as to specific files, file types, folders, categories of files, attorney or client names, email addresses, phone numbers, or other particulars that may assist CBP in identifying privileged information.    

5.2.1.2    Prior to any border search of files or other materials over which a privilege has been asserted, the Officer will contact the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office.  In coordination with the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office, which will coordinate with the U.S. Attorney's Office as needed, Officers will ensure the segregation of any privileged material from other information examined during a border search to ensure that any privileged material is handled appropriately while also ensuring that CBP accomplishes its critical border security mission. This segregation process will occur through the establishment of a Filter Team composed of legal and operational representatives, or through another appropriate measure with written concurrence of the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office.

5.2.1.3    At the completion of the CBP review, unless any materials are identified that indicate an imminent threat to homeland security, copies of materials maintained by CBP and determined to be privileged will be destroyed, except for any copy maintained in coordination with the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office solely for purposes of complying with a litigation hold or other requirement of law.    

5.2.2    Other possibly sensitive information, such as medical records and work-related information carried by journalists, shall be handled in accordance with any applicable federal law  and CBP policy. Questions regarding the review of these materials shall be directed to the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office, and this consultation shall be noted in appropriate CBP systems.    

5.2.3    Officers encountering business or commercial information in electronic devices shall treat such information as business confidential information and shall protect that information from unauthorized disclosure. Depending on the nature of the information presented, the Trade Secrets Act, the Privacy Act, and other laws, as well as CBP policies, may govern or restrict the handling of the information. Any questions regarding the handling of business or commercial information may be directed to the CBP Associate/Assistant Chief Counsel office or the CBP Privacy Officer, as appropriate.

5.2.4    Information that is determined to be protected by law as privileged or sensitive will only be shared with agencies or entities that have mechanisms in place to protect appropriately such information, and such information will only be shared in accordance with this Directive.

In short, you may be able to protect privileges and exemptions on your mobile devices; however, the safer course might be to use a “burner” phone while traveling abroad. And an even safer course would be - wipe any privileged material from the mobile device before leaving and reentering the United States.

Travel is hard enough – let us not make it any harder . . ..

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com

WDJiii