EPA v. REED & BARTON SITE

Case summary

Region 1 plans to investigate potential metals and asbestos contamination at the Reed & Barton Superfund Site in Norton, Massachusetts. Because this site is abandoned, on March 28, 2017, a U.S. Magistrate Judge signed an ex parte administrative warrant granting EPA access to the site property. This warrant is necessary because EPA has been unable to locate a person authorized to provide access to the Site. The warrant provides EPA with access to perform a preliminary assessment and site investigation under the Superfund removal program. The 20.72-acre Reed & Barton Site is the location of the former Reed and Barton Corporation, a silversmith company that manufactured sterling silver and silver plate flatware. Seven multi-story buildings are located on the property. Several of the buildings are in very poor condition, with deteriorated roofs, buckled wooden floors and possible structural issues. Reed and Barton conducted manufacturing operations, with wastewater generated during manufacturing treated and disposed through the use of on-site lagoons. This company filed a voluntary petition pursuant to chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code on February 17, 2015. During the course of the chapter 11 liquidation, the company�s assets were liquidated, all of its employees were terminated, and all of its officers and directors resigned. The Site is currently abandoned. In 2016, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) officials conducted a Site visit and observed various areas which may contain possible hazardous substances and/or waste, including but not limited to: 1) different forms of possible asbestos containing materials such as pipe insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, exterior siding, and possibly roofing materials; 2) an outside area with old transformers, dust collection equipment, and several tanks; 3) three of the seven buildings are in poor condition with deteriorated roofs; and 4) several former process wastewater lagoon areas. Around this same time, MassDEP asked for EPA to evaluate the Site for a possible removal action.

Defendants (1)

• Reed and Barton CorporationNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• REED & BARTON

  ELM & CROSS STREETS, NORTON, MA, 02766

  Registry ID: 110070044781

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 104E3 — Entry Access

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• REED & BARTON SITEentered 2017-03-28

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2017-03-13Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2017-03-16Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-03-28Final Order Entered
• 2017-03-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-03-28Final Order Lodged