Ntape Amicus

8/3/2019 Ntape Amicus

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

DALLAS DIVISION

NATIONAL SOLID WASTES

MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION,

Etc. et al.,

Plaintiff,

!. CIVIL ACTION NO.

"#$$%CV%&"'&&%O

THE CIT( OF DALLAS, MI)E RAWLINGS,

PAULINE MEDRANO, TENNELL AT)INS,

DWAINE CARAWA(, MONICA ALAN*O,

CAROL(N DAVIS, +ERR( ALLEN,

LINDA )OOP, AND ANGELA HUNT,

Defenant

BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE

On behalf of:

NORTH TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (NTAPE)

--An association of City of Dallas civilian employees

1


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E-net- Pena%P-eient

Ste/0en 1ena!ie%P23lic E4/l5ee A!i-

N-t0 Te6a Aciatin f P23lic E4/l5ee

7NTAPE8

$9&: N. Wa0in;tn A!e., S2ite '&'

Dalla, TX


3/14

Re!"e#$ fo Con%&$&onal F&l&n'

A4ic2 N-t0 Te6a Aciatin f P23lic E4/l5ee 0e-e35 -eB2et

/e-4iin t file an a4ic2 3-ief in t0e a3!e%ca/tine actin. A4ic2 i an

inte-ete /a-t5, an t0e eciin f t0e +2;e in t0i 4atte- ?ill i-ectl5 affect it

4e43e-. Acc-in;l5, N-t0 Te6a Aciatin f P23lic E4/l5ee file t0i

3-ief, an -eB2et /e-4iin f-4 t0e Hn-a3le C2-t t cnie- it in 4a@in;

it eciin.

Re/ectf2ll5 S234itte,

S2an Helena D2-0a4, Att-ne5

7ReB2et f- Lea!e t File A4ic2 1-ief /-e!i2l5 ent 35 FAX t Hi Hn-,

+2;e Ree OCnn-, 35 Ste/0en 1ena!ie, c/5 attac0e.8

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ta3le f A2t0-itie. =

Inte-et f A4ic2.. in fa!- f fl? cnt-l

O-inance N. ':9'< 7Jt0e O-inanceK8, ?0ic0 f-ce all ?ate ;ene-ate ?it0in Cit5 li4it t

3e -e%i-ecte t t0e McC44a 1l2ff Lanfill 7Jt0e LanfillK8. T0e O-inance i f-ecate t

inc-eae t-affic t t0e Lanfill 35 t?ent5%fi!e /e-cent, - a ail5 inc-eae f ">& t 9&& ?ate

0a2le-. It i f t0e 2t4t inte-et t 2- 4e43e-0i/ t0at t0i C2-t enin t0e acti!itie

/-ec-i3e in t0e O-inance f- a ti4e t all? f- -el2tin f i44inent an;e- t ci!ilian

e4/l5ee 2e t t0i -atic inc-eae in t-affic, 3ef-e i4/le4entatin f t0e O-inance.

An5t0in; le /2t at -i@ t0e 0ealt0 an afet5 f 2- 4e43e-0i/, nn%aciatin

e4/l5ee, a ?ell a t0e Cit5 /23lic inte-et t /-!ie -e/ni3le anitatin e-!ice

?it02t 2n2e ct - lia3ilitie.

Page 7 of 14


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I The Flo* Con$ol O%&nan+e No ,-.,/ 0o#e# &11&nen$ %an'e of #e&o"# bo%&l2

&n3"2 an%4o fa$al&$2 $o +&5&l&an e10lo2ee#

A The %ea$h of Ro%e&+6 Teell a$ $he Lan%f&ll on Ma2 789 ,878 e#"l$e% fo1 fa&l"e

$o 1&n&1&e heal$h an% #afe$2 haa%#

On Ma5 $&, '&$& Re-ic@ JHt RK Te--ell ?a -e/-te 4iin; afte- c0ec@in; in

f- ?-@ at t0e Lanfill a-2n $/4. Late- t0at a5, a fell? De/a-t4ent f

Sanitatin 7Jt0e De/a-t4entK8 ?-@e- f2n M-. Te--ell ?ate 0a2le- -2nnin; an

a3anne n t0e ?-@in; face f t0e Lanfill. It ?a nt 2ntil t0e ne6t a5, afte- Fi-e

an Rec2e tea4 0a /ent 02- ea-c0in; f- M-. Te--ell 4iin; 35, t0at it ?a

f2n a4it la5e- f ;a-3a;e. T0e cene ?a e4tinall5 t-a24atiin; t0at t0e

Cit5 ent ;-ief c2nel- t t0e Lanfill t ait fell? ?-@e- in c/in; ?it0 t0e

ci-c24tance 2--2nin; ic!e-5 f M-. Te--ell 35, an ?it0 t0e 4anne- in

?0ic0 0e ie.1

T0e Cit5 i -e/ni3le f- 4ana;in; it 42nici/al li ?ate facilitie2, an i

lia3le f- /e-nal in2-5 an fatalit5 ca2e 35 ne;li;ence ?0en t0at fatalit5 a-e

f-4 t0e /e-atin - 2e f a 4t-%-i!en !e0icle - 4t-%-i!en eB2i/4ent.3 T0e

1City Worker found dead at municipal landfill indentified !e "alla# $orning %e' $ay 11, 2(1(' ) !ttp*++&&&dalla#necom+ne+community-ne+dalla#+!eadline#+2(1((511-City-&orker-found-dead-at-"alla#-2646ece.

2e/a# 0ealt! afety Code nn 361271a P89% 8P9%:;


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eat0 f M-. Te--ell 4a5 0a!e 3een a!ie if t0e Cit5 /e-ate an 4aintaine all

!e0icle an eB2i/4ent 2e f- cllectin an t-an/-tatin f 42nici/al li ?ate

in a 4anne- ?0ic0 4ini4ie 0ealt0 an afet5 0aa- t li ?ate 4ana;e4ent

/e-nnel, t0e /23lic, an t0e en!i-n4ent, a -eB2i-e 35 t0e Te6a C44iin n

En!i-n4ental 2alit5 7Jt0e C44iinK8.4 T0e it2atin at t0e Lanfill i n

ilate e!ent, 32t -at0e- a natinal /atte-n. Acc-in; t t0e 12-ea2 f La3-

Statitic%Cen2 f Fatal Occ2/atinal In2-ie 7CFOI8, t0e-e 0a!e 3een

a//-6i4atel5 t?ent5 fatalitie at t0e- 42nici/al li ?ate facilitie !e- t0e lat

f2- 5ea-.5

T0e Cit5 f-ecat t0at t0e O-inance ?ill inc-eae ?ate 0a2le- t-affic t t0e

Lanfill 35 t?ent5%fi!e /e-cent, - t0-ee 02n-e an i6t5 t f2- 02n-e

aitinall5 ?ate 0a2le- 24/in;per day. S2c0 a -atic inc-eae in ?ate 0a2le-

t-affic inc-eae t0e li@eli0 f e-i2 3il5 in2-5 - fatalit5 f- ci!ilian

e4/l5ee n t0e ?-@in; face f t0e Lanfill, an -eB2i-e a ; fait0 eff-t 35 t0e

Cit5 t -e!ie? - a4en Pe-4it N. MSW >', i2e 35 t0e C44iin. An

in!eti;atin initiate 35 NTAPE int /-e%e4/ti!e c--e/nence - /-%acti!e

actin n 3e0alf f t0e Cit5 t 4ini4ie t0ee ?-@/lace 0aa- 3ef-e /aa;e f

43( C 8ule 33(1(5a C9


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t0e O-inance 0a -e!eale little t n e!ience f an5 eff-t t /-tect 42nici/al

li ?ate e4/l5ee - t0e /23lic.6

Aitinall5, a t?ent5%fi!e /e-cent inc-eae in ?ate 0a2le- t-affic t t0e Lanfill

4a5 ca2e an i44inent an;e- t 024an 0ealt0 an afet5 2e t lcalie ai-

/ll2tin e/ie.7 T0e O-inance e nt /-!ie aitinal 0ealt0 -

en!i-n4ental 3enefit, acc-in; t t0e En!i-n4ental P-tectin A;encie 7Jt0e

EPAK8 t25 f fl? cnt-l. T0e EPA al ai t0at enf-ce4ent f fee-al an tate

-e;2latin, nt fl? cnt-l, /-tect t0e /23lic 0ealt0 an t0e en!i-n4ent. T0e

O-inance Jc2l -eana3l5 3e e6/ecte t ca2e eat0 - e-i2 /05ical 0a-4K,

an t0at Jcnitin - /-actice e6itK ?0ic0 ?2l all? f- a -ec44enatin f

ci!il actin t -et-ain 2c0 cnitin - /-actice an f- t0e- a//-/-iate -elief in

acc-ance ?it0 ' CFR $&".$". T0e Cit5 cnt-act 2t t /-i!ate ect- ?ate

0a2le- t 2//le4ent anitatin e-!ice, an t0ee /-i!ate ect- ?ate 0a2le- ?-@

at t0e Lanfill, ?0ic0 i ?ne an /e-ate 35 t0e Cit5. P-i!ate ect- e4/l5ee a-e

/-!ie /-tectin 2ne- t0e Occ2/atinal Safet5 an Healt0 Act f $e#tigation

73( e/ dmin Code 113


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II The D&e+$o of San&$a$&on fo $he C&$2 of Dalla# &n 5&ola$&on

of S$a$e La* an% Flo* Con$ol O%&nan+e No ,-.,/

A The D&e+$o of San&$a$&on an% $he O%&nan+e 5&ola$e $he Te;a# Heal$h an% Safe$2

Co%e9 T&$le "al&$29 Cha0$e ?@7=Sol&% a#$e

Do#al A+$

Te6a Healt0 Safet5 Ce Ann. ">$.&&'7a8 a2t0-ie t0e C44iin t

Jafe;2a- t0e 0ealt0, ?elfa-e, an /05ical /-/e-t5 f t0e /e/le an t /-tect t0e

en!i-n4ent 35 cnt-llin; t0e 4ana;e4ent f li ?ateK. NTAPE, ta@in; int

acc2nt t0e inte-et f ci!ilian 42nici/al li ?ate e4/l5ee, t0e eat0 f M-.

Te--ell at t0e Lanfill, an t0e lac@ f /ecific /-ce2-e efine - a//lie 3ef-e

/aa;e f O-inance, 3elie!e t0at t0e Di-ect- f Sanitatin an t0e Cit5 0a!e faile

t f2lfill t0e -eB2i-e4ent f afe;2a-in; t0e 0ealt0 an ?elfa-e f t0e /e/le.

Sec.$:%$&. JSCOPE OF CHAPTERK, a a4ene, a24e t0at t0e O-inance ?ill

3e f- t0e J3enefit anprotection f t0e cit5 an it citien an t0e Cit5 li ?ate

cllectin an i/al 2tilit5.K 7E4/0ai ae.8. NTAPE ia;-ee n t0i

/-e4ie.

"alla# =lo& Control 9rdinance %o 2427

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In t0e Cit5 4e4, JAn?e- t 2etin f-4 Se/te43e-


13/14

Safet5 Ce Ann. ">$.&$$7a8738. Sec. $:%$&7387'8%7"8 ;i!e t0e Di-ect- f

Sanitatin ic-etina-5 /?e- t Jte4/-a-il5 2/en, - /e-4anentl5 0alt, 2ntil in

t0e directors judgment, aeB2ate 4ea2-eK a-e ta@en en2-e t0e /23lic 0ealt0, afet5

an ?elfa-e. In aitin t t0i a-3it-a-5 /?e-, t0e Di-ect- f Sanitatin 4a5 -eect,

f- an5 -ean, t0e /-cein; f Jia;-eea3leK li ?ate. T0ee /-tin f t0e

O-inance 4a5 3e cnt-2e a a JP?e- G-a3K 35 t0e Cit5, !iin; it le;alit5 2ne-

tate la?. T0i a-;24ent i f2-t0e- 2//-te 35 Te6a Healt0 Safet5 Ce Ann.

">".&&"7$$8, ?0ic0 tate t0at Jt0e /-3le4 f li ?ate 4ana;e4ent 0a!e 3ec4e

a 4atte- f tate cnce-n an -eB2i-e financial aitance t /lan an i4/le4ent li

?ate 4ana;e4ent /-actice t0at enc2-a;e t0e afe i/al f li ?ate an t0e

-ec!e-5 f 4ate-ial an ene-;5 -e2-ce f-4 li ?ateK

CONCLUSION

On 3e0alf f NTAPE, t0e-e a-e /-3le4 ?it0 afet5 in t0e ?a5 t0e Di-ect- f Sanitatin

i i4/le4entin; t0e O-inance. NTAPE 0a /-eente F-ee4 f Inf-4atin -eB2et t

!a-i2 ;!e-n4ental entitie t ;et inf-4atin n t0e i4/le4entatin f t0e O-inance,

incl2in; -eB2etin; c--e/nence 3et?een t0e !a-i2 ;!e-n4ental a;encie. NTAPE

nee aitinal ti4e t -ecei!e an e!al2ate t0e inf-4atin t0at it -ecei!e /2-2ant t t0e

FOIA -eB2et, an it i a@in; t0i Hn-a3le C2-t t 4aintain a -et-aint n i4/le4entatin

f t0e O-inance 2ntil t0e afet5 /-3le4 can 3e e!al2ate an /-/e- -et-aint an

/-ce2-e, if an5, 4a5 3e -eB2i-e t afe;2a- t0e /23lic 0ealt0 an afet5.

Page 13 of 14


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Re/ectf2ll5 234itte,

SUSAN HELENA DURHAM

S

Att-ne5 f- NTAPE

Ce$&f&+a$e of Se5&+e

I 0e-e35 ce-tif5 t0at n t0e $&t0a5 f +an2a-5 '&$', an elect-nic c/5 f t0e f-e;in;

c24ent ?a file ?it0 t0e Cle-@ f t0e C2-t f- t0e US Dit-ict C2-t f- t0e N-t0e-n

Dit-ict f Te6a, 2in; t0e C2-t CMECF 5te4. I f2-t0e- ce-tif5 t0at all /a-tici/ant in t0e

cae a-e -e;ite-e CMECF 2e- an t0at e-!ice ?ill 3e acc4/li0e 35 t0e CMECF

5te4.

S2an Helena D2-0a4

S2an Helena D2-0a4

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