EPA v. COOPER INDUSTRIES INC

Case summary

COOPER IS LIABLE AS AN OPERATOR PRUSUANT TO CERCLA 107A2 FOR CONTAMINATION AT THE SITE BASED ON ITS DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES OF ITS PREDECESSORS. COOPER IS ALSO LIABLE FOR PENALTIES ARISING OUT OF A UAO ISSUED UNDER CERCLA 106A TO COOPER, AMONG OTHERS, WHICH COMPELLED THE RESPONDENT TO PERFORM REMEDIAL WORK AT THE SITE. NONE OF THE RESPONDENTS COMPLIED WITHTHE UAO AND THUS WERE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES. UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE, COOPER WILL PAY A TOTAL OF $7,000,000 PLUS INTEREST. THIS SUM WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE UNITED STATES, THE COMMONWEALTH, AND OTHER PRP, THE FRIEDLANDS (TO SATISFY THE TERMS OF THEIR CONSENT DECREE AND RESOLVE INDEMNIFICATION CLAIMS). THIS SUM INCLUDES A PENALTY PAYMENT OF $60,000 FOR COOPERS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH UAO.

Defendants (1)

• COOPER INDUSTRIES INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• NORWOOD PCB SUPERFUND SITE

  921 PROVIDENCE HIGHWAY, NORWOOD, MA, 02062

  Registry ID: 110006362006

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery
• CERCLA 106B — Superfund

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• COOPER INDUSTRIES INCentered 1997-01-10

  Primary law: CERCLA

  Federal penalty: $60,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1996-07-23Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1996-08-19Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1996-09-27Complaint Filed With Court
• 1997-01-10Final Order Lodged
• 1997-01-10Final Order Entered
• 1997-01-10Concluded