EPA v. PRICE CHARLES, ET AL (PRICE'S LANDFILL)

Case summary

CHARLES PRICE ET AL., (PRICES LANDFILL) FILED CIVIL ACTION #80-4104, ON 12/22/80 IN THE U.S. DIST CT FOR N.J. THE 22 ACRE PRICES LANDFILL IS LOCATED 6 MILES NW OF ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. THE SITE IS ON THE PROPOSED NPL. ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT, WASTES DISPOSED OF AT THE LANDFILL HAVE LEACHED THRU UNDERLYING SAND DEPOSITS INTO GROUNNDWATER, & ARE CONTAMINATING NEARBY RESIDENTIAL DRINKING WATER WELLS. ADDITIONALLY, WASTES ARE LIKELY TO ENTER THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WELLS OF ATLANTIC CITY LOCATED DOWN GRADIENT FROM THE LANDFILL. THE CURRENTLY INACTIVE SITE IS RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE & WAS FORMED BY SAND & GRAVEL MINING. SURROUNDING GEOLOGY IS HIGHLY PERMEABLE UNCONSOLIDATED SAND, & GROUNDWATER IS GENERALLY 10-20 FT BELOW THE SURFACE. THE AREA IS DEVOID OF VEGETATION, & A NUMBER OF LEACHATE SEEPS EMIT EASILY DETECTED CHEMICAL & GARBAGE ODORS. 89 PEOPLE LIVE W/IN 1 MILE OF THE LANDFILL. THESE PERSONS OBTAIN THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM 37 20-?0?0100 FT DEEP PRIVATE WELLS. TO THE NE & EAST OF THE LANDFILL IS THE ATLANTIC CITY WELL FIELD. THE FIELD CONSISTS OF 12 WELLS FROM 60-600 FT IN DEPTH, W/ THE CLOSEST WELL BEING 3400 FT FROM PRICE'S. ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT, THESE PRIVATE WELLS HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED & THE ATLANTIC CITY WELL FIELD IS THREATENED BY CONTAMINATION. WASTES DISPOSED OF AT THE LANDFILL INCLUDE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, SEPTIC TANK & SEWER WASTES, SLUDGE, GREASE & OIL. SOME LIQUID CHEMICAL WASTES WERE POURED DIRECTLY INTO THE LANDFILL & OTHERS WERE BURIED IN 55 GAL DRUMS. SAMPLES FROM LANDFILL AND OFF-SITE DETECTED THE FOLLOWING CHEMICALS: BENZENE, A CARCINOGEN & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANT; 1,2 DICHLOROETHANE, A- CARINOGEN & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANT; 1,2-TRANS- DICHLOROETHYLENE, A CARCINOGEN & SKIN IRRITANT; VINYL CHLO- RIDE, A CARCINOGEN; TRICHLOROETHYLENE, A POTENT CENTRAL NER- VOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANT; CHLOROFORM, A CARCINOGEN; LEAD, A BIOACCUMULATIVE TOXIN. **A REFERRAL RECOMMENDING AMENDMENT OF THE COMPLAINT IN U.S. VS. PRICE, CIVIL NO. #80-4104 (D.N.J.) TO SEEK RECOVERY OF COSTS PURSUANT TO CERCLA 107 WAS SENT TO HQ ON 9/30/85. APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT TO DATE FOR TWO REMEDIAL INVESTIGATIONS & FEASIBILITY STUDIES & INITIAL REMEDIAL MEASURES AT THIS 26 ACRE SITE NEAR ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. ADDITIONAL MONIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE SPENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON FINAL REMEDIATION AT THE SITE.

Defendants (45)

• ROLLINS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ABRAMOFF, BERNARDNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ABRAMOFF, FRANKNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• AGA PARTNERSHIP
• AMOCO CHEMICALS CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• ASTROPAK CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• BAKER, J.T.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• BROOKS, HARVEY
• CARRICINO, WILLIAM
• CHEMICAL CONTROL CORP.
• CHEMQUID DISPOSAL INC.
• COLLETON, MICHAEL
• DAY, ROBERT
• DEVINE, HARRY T.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• ENGELS, HENRY
• ESSEX CHEMICAL CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• EVOR PHILLIPS LEASING CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GARRELL, LEENamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• HAMBY, CAROL
• HAMBY, WAYNE
• HAUSLOHNER, ROBERT A.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• HOFFMAN - LA ROCHE, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• HONEYWELL INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• JACKSON, DANIEL F.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• JONES, SAMUEL H.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• …and 20 more

Facilities (1)

• PRICE LANDFILL

  MILL ROAD, PLEASANTVILLE, NJ, 08232

  Registry ID: 110009324533

Statutes cited

• RCRA 7003 — Imminent Order: Solid or Hazardous Waste
• SDWA 1431 — Emergency Powers
• CERCLA 107 — Superfund
• CERCLA 106 — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• PRICE, CHARLES ET AL (PRICE'Sentered 1988-06-30

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1980-06-02Referred To Headquarters
• 1980-09-27Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1980-12-16Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1980-12-22Complaint Filed With Court
• 1988-06-30Final Order Lodged
• 1988-06-30Final Order Entered
• 1988-06-30Concluded
• 1993-01-15Enforcement Action Closed