--> Abstract: Reporting Obligations: Balancing Compliance and Liability Considerations, by C. M. Uritz; #90992 (1993).

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URITZ, CURT W., Fairfield & Strauss, Ventura, CA

ABSTRACT: Reporting Obligations: Balancing Compliance and Liability Considerations

Professionals in the oil and gas and geology industries must become increasingly conscious of the necessity of complying with a variety of federal and state environmental legislation. Environmental law has evolved over a period of time, resulting in overlapping and sometimes conflicting requirements. This is especially true in the area of reporting evidence of contamination. This presentation will provide an overview of disclosure and reporting requirements under various federal and state statutes and regulations relating to hazardous materials and the environment, with an emphasis on the legislation's applicability to the petroleum and geology industries.

Areas discussed will include: (1) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") and Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("SARA"), which authorize the government to respond to releases of hazardous substances; (2) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), which regulates both underground storage tanks and the generation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes; (3) Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and Clean Water Act as they apply to discharge of wastes that may affect water quality; (4) Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, which covers releases and threatened releases from facilities; (5) Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA"), which regulates such substances as asbestos and PCBs.

The focus of the presentation will be to ensure compliance while minimizing liability in the many "gray areas" relating to reporting requirements.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90992©1993 AAPG Pacific Section Meeting, Long Beach, California, May 5-7, 1993.