05.15.2017

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General News

Mark Schneider was quoted in the Law360 article, "Pruitt EPA Gives Cos. New Way To Fight Superfund Costs," regarding a revision to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act delegation of authority, which gives Administrator Scott Pruitt the final word on how the most expensive Superfund sites are cleaned up.

Pruitt's goal of improving consistency is laudable, said Mark Schneider, a partner at Perkins Coie LLP and chair of the firm's energy and environmental litigation practice.

He said some recent EPA remedy decisions have had problems. They set what he called "unrealistic" remedial action goals and didn't comply with the agency's own directives, policy and guidance.

"The benefit of this directive is that it provides the opportunity, which I hope will be exercised, of an independent manager making a judgment to ensure that remedial decisions are more thoughtful and in compliance with EPA guidance and policies," Schneider said.