Appendix 18 Model Remedial Design-Remedial Action (RD-RA) Consent Decree for CERCLA

• Author: Allison Rumsey/Michael Daneker
• Pages: 467-548

Page 467

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF ________

________ DIVISION

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

[and STATE OF ________]

Plaintiffs,

Civil Action No.

v.

________, INC.,

Defendants.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

MODEL REMEDIAL DESIGN/REMEDIAL ACTION (RD/RA) CONSENT DECREE

July 2011

[A minor edit was made to ¶55a on March 23, 2012]

This document contains automatic section and paragraph numbers and automatic section and

paragraph cross references. If you add or delete sections or paragraphs, please do not attempt

to manually renumber any sections or paragraphs or cross references. Please see instructions

at the end for more details.

This model and any internal procedures adopted for its implementation and use are intended

solely as guidance for employees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They do not

constitute rulemaking by the Agency and may not be relied upon to create a right or benefit,

substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any person. The Agency may

take action at variance with this model or its internal implementing procedures.

Page 468 Superfund Deskbook

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 1

II. JURISDICTION .......................................................................................................................... 2

III. PARTIES BOUND ..................................................................................................................... 3

IV. DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................ 3

V. GENERAL PROVISIONS .......... ......................................... .......................................... ........... 10

VI. PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK BY SETTLING DEFENDANTS .................. .................. 12

VII. REMEDY REVIEW ................................................................................................................. 17

VIII. QUALITY ASSURANCE, SAMPLING, AND DATA ANALYSIS ....................................... 18

IX. ACCESS AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS ............................................. ........................ 20

X. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ......... ......................................... .......................................... . 24

XI. EPA APPROVAL OF PLANS, REPORTS, AND OTHER DELIVERABLES ....................... 26

XII. PROJECT COORDINATORS .............. .......................................... .......................................... 27

XIII. PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE ................................................ .......................................... .. 27

XIV. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLETION ....................................... .......................................... ... 33

XV. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ............................................................................... ...................... 35

XVI. PAYMENTS FOR RESPONSE COSTS .................................................... .............................. 36

XVII. DISBURSEMENT OF SPECIAL ACCOUNT FUNDS ................................................. .......... 44

XVIII. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE .......................... ........................................... ......... 48

XIX. FORCE MAJEURE .................................................................................................................. 49

XX. DISPUTE RESOLUTION ................................................... .......................................... ........... 50

XXI. STIPULATED PENALTIES ................................................. .......................................... ......... 53

XXII. COVENANTS BY PLAINTIFF[S] ..................................................... ..................................... 56

XXIII. COVENANTS BY SETTLING DEFENDANTS [AND SETTLING FEDERAL AGENCIES]61

XXIV. EFFECT OF SETTLEMENT; CONTRIBUTION ...................................................... .............. 65

XXV. ACCESS TO INFORMATION .................................. .......................................... .................... 67

XXVI. RETENTION OF RECORDS .............................................. .......................................... ........... 68

XXVII. NOTICES AND SUBMISSIONS .......................................... .......................................... ......... 69

XXVIII. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION ......................................................... ................................. 70

XXIX. APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 71

XXX. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ..................................................... ....................................... 71

XXXI. MODIFICATION...................................................................................................................... 72

XXXII. LODGING AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ............................................. 72

XXXIII. SIGNATORIES/SERVICE .. .......................................... .......................................... ................. 73

XXXIV. FINAL JUDGMENT ................................................................................................................ 73

Model Remedial Design-Remedial Action (RD-RA) Consent Decree for CERCLA Page 469

1

I. BACKGROUND

A. The United States of America (“United States”), on behalf of the Administrator of

the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), filed a complaint in this matter

pursuant to Sections 106 and 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9606, 9607.

B. The United States in its complaint seeks, inter alia: (1) reimbursement of costs

incurred by EPA and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) for response actions at the ________

Superfund Site in [City, State], together with accrued interest; and (2) performance of response

actions by the defendants at the Site consistent with the National Contingency Plan (“NCP”),

40 C.F.R. Part 300.

C. In accordance with the NCP and Section 121(f)(1)(F) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C.

§ 9621(f)(1)(F), EPA notified the State of ________ (the “State”) on ________, 20__, of

negotiations with potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) regarding the implementation of the

remedial design and remedial action for the Site, and EPA has provided the State with an

opportunity to participate in such negotiations and be a party to this Consent Decree.

D. [The State has also filed a complaint against the defendants [if Settling Federal

Agencies (“SFAs”), insert: and the United States] in this Court alleging that the defendants [and

Settling Federal Agencies] are liable to the State under Section 107 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C.

§ 9607, and [list state laws cited in the State’s complaint], for: ________.]]

E. In accordance with Section 122(j)(1) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9622(j)(1), EPA

notified the [insert name of relevant federal natural resource trustee(s)] on ________, 20__,

of negotiations with PRPs regarding the release of hazardous substances that may have resulted

in injury to the natural resources under federal trusteeship and encouraged the trustee(s) to

participate in the negotiation of this Consent Decree.

F. The defendants that have entered into this Consent Decree (“Settling Defendants”)

do not admit any liability to Plaintiff[s] arising out of the transactions or occurrences alleged in

the complaint[s], nor do they acknowledge that the release or threatened release of hazardous

substance(s) at or from the Site constitutes an imminent and substantial endangerment to the

public health or welfare or the environment. [Settling Federal Agencies do not admit any

liability arising out of the transactions or occurrences alleged in any counterclaim asserted by

Settling Defendants [or any claim by the State].]

G. Pursuant to Section 105 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9605, EPA placed the Site on

the National Priorities List (“NPL”), set forth at 40 C.F.R. Part 300, Appendix B, by publication

in the Federal Register on ________, 20__, __ Fed. Reg. ________. [NOTE: For Superfund

Alternative Approach settlements, delete this Paragraph.]

H. In response to a release or a substantial threat of a release of a hazardous

substance(s) at or from the Site, EPA [or Settling Defendants, other PRPs at the Site, or the