The San Francisco Bay Branch is pleased to present:

Making Polluters Pay for PFAS Treatment Costs 

Ken Sansone

Partner, SL Environmental Law Group PC

PRESENTATION:

The treatment needed to provide high-quality drinking water comes at a significant financial burden to water utilities. Whether addressing a regulated drinking water constituent or emerging contaminants of concern such as PFAS and 1,2,3 TCP, it becomes increasingly challenging to deliver affordable water to consumers. While every case must be evaluated on its facts, legal precedence has been set for recovering the costs of cleaning up contaminated drinking water and shifting treatment costs from ratepayers to polluters. Under the theory of “products liability,” manufacturers of chemicals responsible for contamination are held accountable for the associated treatment costs. Included in these costs are replacement or treatment of affected well, capital costs, well connection and distribution system costs, operation and maintenance costs for the lifetime of affected wells, and protection against future uncertainty. By incorporating a systematic legal review of cost recovery options as part of their approach to evaluating their response to a new water contaminant, water utilities may be able to lessen their financial burden associated with providing high-quality drinking water. This presentation will detail the legal review process that can be undertaken by a utility interested in pursuing cost recovery options for regulated or emerging contaminants.

SPEAKER BIO:

Ken Sansone is a partner at SL Environmental and focuses his practice on complex environmental matters. Ken has nearly two decades of experience in handling sophisticated civil and criminal litigation at both the trial and appellate level in state and federal court. He was recently lead trial counsel to the City of Pomona in its perchlorate contamination lawsuit against a Chilean mining company in federal court in Los Angeles. Ken is currently representing a number of California water providers who have sued, or are preparing to bring lawsuits against, the manufacturers and sellers of products responsible for TCP contamination in their groundwater supplies. Before joining SL Environmental, Ken served as an assistant attorney general for the State of New Hampshire, where he represented state officials, agencies, and employees, and the state itself, in a wide range of disputes. Ken received his law degree from New York University School of Law, and his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude with the highest distinction, from Duke University. Ken was a Jeopardy! Champion in 2016.

DINNER COSTS:

• $50 for Members
• $55 for Non-Members
• $10 for Student attendees

MEAL OPTIONS:

• Salmon Alla Bella
• Chicken Breast and Wild Mushroom Piccata
• Wild Mushroom or Roasted Vegetable Ravioli

QUESTIONS:
Contact the Branch President, Bill DeBoer (Bill.DeBoer@Jacobs.com) at 925-212-1630.

GRA San Francisco Bay Branch is interested in supporting university science students. Our Scholastic Sponsorship Program is an opportunity to publicize your business while contributing toward a good cause. Please contact Abigail Madrone at amadrone@westyost.com for details.

We are actively looking for potential speakers. If you have a topic or suggestion, please contact the Branch President.