Case 2:17-cv-01349-KJM-CKD Document 129 Filed 07/06/20 Page 1 of 4
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`SHARI M. HOWARD (IL Bar No. 6289779)
`Trial Attorney
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`U.S. Department of Justice
`Environment and Natural Resources Division
`Environmental Defense Section
`P.O. Box 7611, Ben Franklin Station
`Washington, DC 20044
`Telephone: (202) 305-0999
`Facsimile No.: (202) 514-8865
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`MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS (D.C. Bar No. 471618)
`GEOFFRY C. COOK (D.C. Bar No. 460301)
`Trial Attorneys
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`U.S. Department of Justice
`Civil Division, Environmental Tort Litigation Section
`P.O. Box 340, Ben Franklin Station
`Washington, DC 20044
`Telephone: (202) 307-3839
`Facsimile No.: (202) 616-4473
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`Attorneys for the United States of America
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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`RIO LINDA ELVERTA COMMUNITY
`WATER DISTRICT,
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` Plaintiff,
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`vs.
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`THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ET
`AL.,
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` Defendants.
`SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER
`DISTRICT,
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` Plaintiff,
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`vs.
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`ELEMENTIS CHROMIUM
`INCORPORATED, ET AL.,
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` Defendants.
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`Case No. 2:17-cv-01349-KJM-GGH
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`UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’S
`MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF
`SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION
`AND FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM
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`Case No. 2:17-cv-01353-KJM-GGH
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`Judge: Kimberly J. Mueller
`Date: September 25, 2020
`Time: 10:00 A.M.
`Ctrm: 3
`Actions filed: June 30, 2017
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`UNITED STATES’ MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION AND FAILURE TO
`STATE A CLAIM
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`Case 2:17-cv-01349-KJM-CKD Document 129 Filed 07/06/20 Page 2 of 4
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`UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF
`SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION AND FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM
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` Defendant United States of America (“United States”), pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
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`Procedure 12(b)(1), hereby moves to dismiss the Complaint of Plaintiff, Rio Linda Elverta
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`Community Water District, and Second Amended Complaint of Plaintiff, Sacramento Suburban
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`Water District, (collectively “Plaintiffs” or “Water Districts”), in the above-captioned related
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`matters1 for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because: (1)(a) Section 113(h) of the
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`Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42
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`U.S.C. § 113(h), bars Plaintiffs’ challenges to the ongoing CERCLA response actions; (b) the
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`Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 6972(b)(2)(B)(ii)-(iii)
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`prohibits Plaintiffs’ RCRA claim because CERCLA response actions are ongoing; and (c)
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`Plaintiffs have not alleged an injury-in-fact sufficient to demonstrate Article III standing to raise
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`their RCRA or CERCLA claims(Count 1 and Count 8); (2) The discretionary function exception
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`to the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b), 2671-80, bars Plaintiffs’ FTCA
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`tort claims (Counts 2-4 and 7) for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction; (3) No waiver of sovereign
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`immunity is pled or available for Plaintiffs’ Cal. Civil Code § 1882 claim (Count 7); and (4)
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`Plaintiffs’ alleged CERCLA response costs are not necessary and consistent with the National
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`Contingency Plan (Count 8). In addition, to the extent other defendants file a motion to dismiss
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`by July 6, 2020, pursuant to this Court’s February 7, 2020 stipulated order, See Orders, ¶II(3)(a)
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`(ECF104, Sacramento Suburban; ECF 96, Rio Linda Elverta), the United States joins in these
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`motions to dismiss.
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`1The Court previously ordered that the above-captioned matters are related within the meaning of
`Local Rule 123(a). See ECF 7, Related Case Order (08/03/2017).
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`UNITED STATES’ MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION AND FAILURE TO
`STATE A CLAIM
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`Case 2:17-cv-01349-KJM-CKD Document 129 Filed 07/06/20 Page 3 of 4
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`The Court should grant this motion to dismiss all of Plaintiffs’ claims against the United
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`States for the reasons set forth in the accompanying Memorandum of Law2, Statement of Facts,
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`Declarations of Philip H. Mook and Steven K. Mayer, and Exhibits 1-73, filed in support of this
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`motion to dismiss.
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`Counsel for Defendant United States herby certifies that consistent with the Federal Rules
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`of Civil Procedure and the Court’s Standing Order, Defendant United States has exhausted effort
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`to meet and confer with Plaintiffs’ counsel regarding the substance of this Motion via emails
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`exchanged between June 30, 2020, and July 1, 2020. Plaintiffs do not consent to the relief
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`sought in this motion. Per agreement of the parties, hard copy courtesy copies will not be
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`provided at this time due to COVID-19, but will be provided to the Court in advance of the
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`Court’s hearing.
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`Date: July 6, 2020
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`Letitia J. Grishaw
`Chief, Environmental Defense Section
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`Martha Mann
`Assistant Chief, Environmental Defense Section
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`s/ Shari M. Howard
`SHARI M. HOWARD (IL Bar No. 6289779)
`Trial Attorney
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`U.S. Department of Justice
`Environment and Natural Resources Division
`Environmental Defense Section
`P.O. Box 7611, Ben Franklin Station
`Washington, DC 20044
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`2 The Court previously enlarged the page limit for the United States’ Memorandum of Law by 15
`pages, not to exceed 35 pages. See ECF 108, Stipulation and Order (3/10/2020).
`UNITED STATES’ MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION AND FAILURE TO
`STATE A CLAIM
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`Case 2:17-cv-01349-KJM-CKD Document 129 Filed 07/06/20 Page 4 of 4
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`Telephone: (202) 305-0999
`Facsimile No.: (202) 514-8865
`shari.howard@usdoj.gov
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`Ethan P. Davis
`Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division
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`J. Patrick Glynn
`Director, Torts Branch
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`Christina M. Falk
`Assistant Director, Torts Branch
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`s/ Michael L. Williams
`Michael L. Williams (DC Bar # 471618)
`Geoffrey C. Cook (DC Bar #460301)
`Trial Attorneys, Tort Branch
`Environmental Tort Litigation
`P.O. Box 340
`Ben Franklin Station
`Washington, DC 20004
`Phone: 202-616-4224
`Telephone: (202) 307-3839
`Facsimile No.: (202) 616-4473
`michael.l.williams@usdoj.gov
`geoffery.c.cook@usdoj.gov
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`I hereby certify that on July 6, 2020, the foregoing Motion to Dismiss for Lack of
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`Subject-Matter Jurisdiction And Failure To State A Claim and referenced supporting
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`Memorandum in Support, Statement of Facts, Declarations of Philip H. Mook and Steven K.
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`Mayer, and Exhibits 1-73, were filed via the U.S. District Court’s CM/ECF electronic filing
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`system and a copy thereof was served upon all counsel of record.
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`s/ Michael L. Williams
`MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS
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`UNITED STATES’ MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF SUBJECT-MATTER JURISDICTION AND FAILURE TO
`STATE A CLAIM
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