EPA v. UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Case summary

ON JUNE 30, 1989, REGION I REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE A SUIT AGAINST THE UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (UTC) OF HARTFORD CONNECTICUT. THE REFERRAL PROPOSES FILING SUIT AGAINST UTC FOR NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS OF SUBTITLE C OF RCRA AT FIVE PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING FACILITIES WHICH ARE DIVISIONS OF UTC LOCATED IN CONNECTICUT. EPA RECOMMENDS SEEKING COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE RCRA REQUIREMENTS AT ALL FIVE FACILITIES, AND THE PAYMENT BY UTC OF APPROXIMATELY $800,000 IN PENALTIES. THE CASE IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE PROPOSED DEFENDANT, THE COMPANY'S LONG HISTORY OF NON-COMPLIANCE AND RECALCITRANCE IN THE FACE OF EPA ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE ACTION WILL BOTH PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE FIVE FACILITIES AND DETER SIMILARLY SITUATED COMPANIES FROM ENGAGING IN ENVIR- ONMENTALLY HARMFUL PRACTICES. *****12/29/90**** SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL ( FACILITY AMMENDMENT) DESCRIBES THE FAILURE OF THE HAMILTON STANDARD DIVISION OF UTC TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERIM STATUS STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES AND WITH APPLICABLE HAZARDOUS GENERATOR STANDARDS. THESE VIOLATIONS WERE DETECTED 10/24-25/89. ADDITIONALLY, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL DESCRIBES HAMILTON STANDARD VIOLATIONS OF AN AUGUST 1989 ADMINISTRATIVE CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED INTO IN SETTLEMENT OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3008A RCRA.

Defendants (1)

• UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (10)

• HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION

  1 HAMILTON ROAD, WINDSOR LOCKS, CT, 060961010

  Registry ID: 110000315588

• PRATT & WHITNEY

  415 WASHINGTON AVE., N HAVEN, CT, 064731315

  Registry ID: 110031276866

• PRATT & WHITNEY

  400 MAIN STREET, EAST HARTFORD, CT, 061081888

  Registry ID: 110017435701

• PRATT & WHITNEY

  COLT STREET, EAST HARTFORD, CT, 06118

  Registry ID: 110001148972

• PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT DIVISION

  87 AIRCRAFT ROAD, SOUTHINGTON, CT, 06489

  Registry ID: 110000610713

• PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT DIVISION

  87 AIRCRAFT ROAD, SOUTHINGTON, CT, 06489

  Registry ID: 110000610713

• PRATT & WHITNEY

  AIRCRAFT RD., MIDDLETOWN, CT, 064575722

  Registry ID: 110000581683

• SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT STRATFORD FACILITY

  6900 MAIN ST., STRATFORD, CT, 066159129

  Registry ID: 110000316970

• PRATT & WHITNEY CPD

  45 NEWELL ST, SOUTHINGTON, CT, 06489

  Registry ID: 110000610642

• HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION

  1 HAMILTON ROAD, WINDSOR LOCKS, CT, 060961010

  Registry ID: 110000315588

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3008C — Violation of Compliance Order
• RCRA 3004 — Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Standards
• RCRA 3008A — Compliance Order: Injunctive & Penalty
• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPentered 1993-08-23

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $4,251,910

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1989-04-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1989-06-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1990-09-04Complaint Filed With Court
• 1993-08-23Final Order Lodged
• 1993-08-23Final Order Entered
• 1993-10-19Concluded