Unsafe sewage sludge or beneficial biosolids?: Liability, planning, and management issues regarding the land application of sewage treatment residuals

Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, Summer 1999 by Goldfarb, William, Krogmann, Uta

2 The rule seeks to internalize externalities. See id. at 556; see also Berg v. Reaction Motors, 181 A2d 487, 494 (NJ. 1962) (holding that action by property owners for compensatory and punitive damages to their property resulting from the testing of a rocket engine should in all fairness be absorbed by defendant as a cost of doing business). al: See generally Branch v. Western Petroleum, Inc., 657 P.2d 267 (Utah 1982). 2 Absolute liability for nuisance is recognized by New Jersey common law where defendant carries on an abnormally dangerous activity in an inappropriate place or where the enterprise involves so great a risk to its surroundings that its location may be considered unreasonable. See New Jersey Transp. Dep't. v. PSC Resources, Inc., 419 A.2d 1151, 1161 (NJ. Super. Ct. Law Div. 1980).

G See Report of the Attorney General's Tsk Force on Sovereign Immunity (May 1972), reprinted in HARRY MARGOLIS & ROBERT NOVACK, CLAIMS AGAINST PUBLIC ENTITIES app. D (1994).

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Oregon, Michigan, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Vermont, Washington and New York have abolished their immunity over the past ten years. See id.

2 See New Jersey Thrt Claims Act, NJ. STAT. ANN. b9:1-1, 12-3 (West 1992). 2 See id. 59:2-3(a).

IN See generally WILLIAM DREIER ET AL., NEW JERSEY PRODUCTS LIABILITY AND TOXIC RTS LAw ch. 34:2 (1998).

3' 497 A.2d 1310, 1313 (NJ. Super. Ct. Law Div. 1985) .423 See id. at 1325-26. NBs See id. at 1326.

m NJ. STAT. ANN. 59:4-2. m See Kenney, 497 A.2d at 1317. a See id. at 1318.

7 449 A.2d 472, 474-75 (NJ. 1982). 0 See id. at 478-79. 9 See NJ. STAT. ANN. 59:4-6.

310 See Grossman & Fischer, supra note 178, at 125. all MICH. CoMP. LAWS ANN. 286.472(2) (1998).

312 See CONN. STAT. ANN. 19a441 (1997); TENN. CODE ANN. 44-18-101 (1993). 313 Protection is normally extended only to well established agricultural activities. See Grossman & Fischer, supra note 178, at 125-27. 314 451 S.E.2d 1, 3 (N.C. App. 1994) (emphasis omitted). 316 See Right to Farm Act, N.M. STAT. ANN. 47-9-3A (Michie Supp. 1997).

316 See UTAH CODE ANN. 1953 78-38-7 (Michie 1998). 817 See Grossman & Fischer, supra note 178, at 125-27.

aia To exclude operations that modify technology in order to incorporate more efficient farming methods would counteract the policy of protecting properly operated (i.e., in compliance with Part 503) farming activities: "the law should not hamper agricultural production." Id. at 129 n.144 (citing WIB. STAT. ANN. 823.08(1)).

319 See ARIZ. REV. STAT. ANN. 3-111, 3-112 (1998); DEL. CODE. ANN. tit. 3, 140 (1998) ("The provisions of this section shall not apply . . . when such operation is being operated in violation of State or Federal law or any local or county ordinance."); see also N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. 432:34 (1998) ("Agricultural operations shall not be found to be negligent or improper when they conform to federal, state and local laws."). 0 See KAN. STAT. ANN. 2-2302 (1998). ,.See VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 12, 5753 (1997).