Los Angeles CERCLA and RCRA Lawyers
Environmental contamination can create legal and financial risks for Los Angeles property owners, businesses, developers, and waste management companies. A cleanup demand, agency notice, or contaminated property transaction may raise questions about who is responsible and what must happen next.
Tropea McMillan, LLP advises clients on matters involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Our attorneys help clients assess potential liability, respond to enforcement actions, and resolve environmental disputes.
CERCLA Representation in Los Angeles
CERCLA, also known as Superfund, governs responses to releases of hazardous substances and provides ways to recover cleanup costs from potentially responsible parties. A current or former property owner, operator, or other party connected to a site may face a claim, depending on the facts.
A CERCLA matter can arise during an agency investigation, a property sale, redevelopment, or a dispute over cleanup expenses. Tropea McMillan helps clients evaluate the site history, the basis for a liability claim, available defenses, and whether other parties may share responsibility. If you are looking for a CERCLA lawyer in Los Angeles, our attorneys can help you assess these issues.
Our work may include:
- Responding to notices and demands from environmental agencies
- Defending cleanup cost and liability claims
- Pursuing contribution or cost recovery where appropriate
- Addressing contamination risks in property transactions
- Negotiating with agencies and other potentially responsible parties
- Representing clients in environmental litigation, including Superfund litigation in Los Angeles
RCRA Compliance and Enforcement Defense
RCRA regulates hazardous waste from its generation through transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. Its requirements can affect businesses that generate or handle hazardous waste, as well as facilities subject to permits or corrective action.
Tropea McMillan advises Los Angeles clients facing questions about waste handling, permit obligations, investigations, and alleged violations. When a facility receives an enforcement notice or corrective action demand, we help identify the applicable requirements and develop a response grounded in the facts. Businesses seeking an RCRA lawyer in Los Angeles can contact our team to discuss their situation.
When Should You Contact a CERCLA or RCRA Lawyer?
Consider speaking with counsel if you:
- Receive an EPA or state agency notice concerning a contaminated site
- Are named as a potentially responsible party
- Face a demand to investigate, clean up, or pay for contamination
- Plan to buy, sell, or redevelop property with a history of industrial use
- Receive a hazardous waste inspection report or alleged violation
- Disagree with another party over responsibility for cleanup costs
Early review can help preserve records, clarify deadlines, and identify practical options before a dispute expands.
How Tropea McMillan Can Help
CERCLA and RCRA matters often involve technical records, multiple parties, and overlapping federal and state requirements. Our attorneys work with clients to understand the site or facility, assess legal exposure, and pursue a response suited to their business and property goals.
From initial investigation through negotiation or litigation, Tropea McMillan represents clients dealing with hazardous substance releases, cleanup liability, waste management requirements, and environmental enforcement.
Speak With a Los Angeles Environmental Lawyer
If your business or property is affected by a CERCLA claim, RCRA investigation, or hazardous waste dispute, contact Tropea McMillan, LLP to discuss your situation. If you need a hazardous waste attorney in Los Angeles, our team can review the circumstances with you.
Los Angeles office — by appointment only
12100 Wilshire Blvd., 8th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CERCLA and RCRA?
CERCLA primarily addresses releases of hazardous substances and cleanup liability. RCRA establishes requirements for managing solid and hazardous waste and can also require corrective action for releases at regulated facilities.
Can I face CERCLA liability for contamination I did not cause?
Potentially. CERCLA can impose liability based on a party’s relationship to a contaminated site, including current ownership. Whether a defense or liability protection applies depends on the facts and the steps taken.
