EPA v. PHARMACIA & UPJOHN CO LLC

Case summary

On July 1, 2025, EPA Region 1 sent a letter to Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, LLC ( P&U ) to terminate a 2011 RCRA Corrective Action Order on Consent that required cleanup of the former 78-acre Pharmacia & Upjohn manufacturing facility in North Haven, Connecticut (the 2011 Order ). EPA also issued a revised TSCA Determination on July 1. The site, which is located on the banks of the Quinnipiac River, was contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, and metals after years of use as a manufacturing facility for pharmaceuticals. In 2003, Pfizer merged with Pharmacia and took over the responsibility for cleaning up the site. Before issuance of the 2011 Order, Pfizer and/or its predecessors had studied the site under a previous EPA order and implemented ?interim measures? to stem the flow of contaminated groundwater and prevent contact with PCBs and other contaminants. The formal site cleanup plan, approved in 2010, proposed using a wide variety of corrective measures ? thermal treatment of contaminants, pumping and treating groundwater, excavating contaminated soils, consolidation of some soils on site under low permeability caps, recording restrictive covenants to control future land uses, and renovating habitat, among others. On the eastern side of the property, approximately 57 acres of wetlands and upland meadows have been restored, and a two-mile interpretive trail system now winds along the banks of the Quinnipiac River. This preserve is open to the public by appointment. On the western side, approximately 17 acres of land has been made available for future commercial or light industrial use. EPA approved the site-wide ?construction complete? report for the remedial measures in 2020, and a RCRA permit, issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection requires ongoing operation, monitoring, and maintenance obligations (such as the continued operation of the groundwater extraction and treatment system). According to Pfizer, the cleanup cost approximately $115 million. EPA has coordinated with the State at every major step of the cleanup. This is an updated RCRA 3008(h) order to implement the chosen remedy at the 41 Stiles Lane, North Haven site. The remedy includes, among other things, groundwater extraction and treatment, in-situ thermal remedation of DNAPL, sediment removal, institutional controls, and financial assurance.

Defendants (1)

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN CO LLCNamed in settlement

Facilities (6)

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, LLC

  41 STILES LANE, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

  Registry ID: 110000748273

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, LLC

  41 STILES LANE, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

  Registry ID: 110000748273

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, LLC

  41 STILES LANE, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

  Registry ID: 110000748273

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, LLC

  41 STILES LANE, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

  Registry ID: 110000748273

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, LLC

  41 STILES LANE, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

  Registry ID: 110000748273

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN COMPANY, LLC

  41 STILES LANE, NORTH HAVEN, CT, 06473

  Registry ID: 110000748273

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3008H — Interim Status Corrective Action Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• PHARMACIA & UPJOHN CO LLCentered 2011-03-31

  Primary law: RCRA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2011-03-31Final Order Issued
• 2011-04-07Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2025-07-01Enforcement Action Closed