Environmental -- 2014



GenOn Power Midwest, L.P. v. Bell   (U.S. Supreme Court)

Validity of state tort suits for damages from permitted emissions under Clean Air Act

This is a Clean Air Act preemption case. Some private property owners sued a power company under common law tort claiming damages for nuisance, trespass, negligence and strict liability arising from emissions and particulates from the operation of a coal-fired power plant in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The plant had permits from EPA for the emissions, and the lawsuit did not allege any violations of the Clean Air Act. The trial court threw the case out, finding it preempted by the Clean Air Act, but the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, holding that a provision of the Act saves this kind of state lawsuit. The company sought Supreme Court review.

The NAM led a group of 11 other industry associations in filing an amicus brief supporting review. We argued that state common law remedies such as those sought here are irreconcilably inconsistent with the comprehensive system of air pollution control provided by the Clean Air Act. Permits, which are subject to public notice and comment, specify clear emission and operating standards that guarantee certainty, predictability, and evenhandedness to the regulated community. They provide an informed assessment of competing interests. By contrast, common law suits view the issues from a narrower perspective, using vague standards of liability, uneven application between states or even within states, with no guarantee of consistent results even between similar facilities.

Companies must be able to rely on permits for stable business operations, and these kinds of suits are a growing concern. Their effect is to add additional liability for activities that fully comply with federal permit obligations, raising the cost of doing business and threatening jobs and competitiveness.

The Supreme Court denied our appeal on June 2, 2014.


Related Documents:
NAM brief  (March 26, 2014)