EPA v. BELLO RALPH

Case summary

IN 1998, EPA COMPLETED A REMOVAL ACTION AT THE NATIONAL OIL SERVICES SITE, A FORMER WASTE OIL STORAGE, TREATMENT, TRANSFER, RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL FACILITY IN WEST HAVEN, CT. THE REMOVAL ACTION CONSISTED PRIMARILY OF THE CHARACTERIZATION AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER, WASTE OIL AND SLUDGE. TO DATE, EPA HAS INCURRED APPROXIMATELY $1.6 MILLION AT THE SITE. EPA IS IN THE PROCESS OF SETTLING THE LIABILITIES OF APPROXIMATELY 400 PARTIES THAT SENT WASTE OIL TO THE SITE. THE SETTLEMENT SHOULD RAISE APPROXIMATELY $810,000. THE SITE IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE VERA ASSOCIATES LTD PARTNERSHIP. RALPH AND VERA BELLO ARE GENERAL PARTNERS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND ARE, THEREFORE, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARTNERSHIP'S DEBTS. MR AND MRS BELLO ALSO OWNED THE SITE JOINTLY FROM 1973 TO 1990. (IN 1990 THEY TRANSFERRED OWNERSHIP TO THE PARTNERSHIP.) EPA FILED THIS COMPLAINT ON AUGUST 17, 2001 AGAINST THE PARTNERSHIP, MR & MRS BELLO, AND THE SITE PROPERTY FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OUTSTANDING PAST COSTS UP TO THE VALUE OF THE SITE.

Defendants (13)

• 16-20 ELM ST, WEST HAVEN CT (SITE PROP)Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• RALPH BELLONamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• VERA ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• VERA BELLONamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• TORRINGTONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• DETROIT STEELNamed in complaint
• INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICESNamed in complaint
• PRATT & WHITNEYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WSTERN SAND & GRAVELNamed in complaint
• CARPENTER TECHNOLOGYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MRM INDUSTRIES INCNamed in complaint
• ARMSTRONG RUBBER COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• BRIDGEPORT BRASS COMPANYNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE COMPANIES

  16 ELM ST, W HAVEN, CT, 06516

  Registry ID: 110045706884

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (3)

• BELLO RALPHentered 2004-07-29

  Primary law: CERCLA

• ARMSTRONG RUBBER COMPANYentered 2004-11-15

  Primary law: CERCLA

• TORRINGTONentered 2005-06-03

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2001-08-09Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2001-08-17Complaint Filed With Court
• 2001-09-13Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2004-08-24Final Order Lodged
• 2004-11-15Final Order Entered
• 2005-06-03Concluded