EPA v. UNION CARBIDE

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: UNION CARBIDE IS A LARGE MANUFACTURER OF PETROCHEM- ICAL & RELATED PRODUCTS. THE SOMERSET FACILITY IS A POLY- VINYL CHLORIDE PLANT. CAUSE OF ACTION: THIS PLANT IS SUBJECT TO THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARD FOR VINYL CHLORIDE, 40 CFR SEC 61.60 ET SEQ. THE ACTION INVOLVES VIOL'S OF SEVERAL PORTIONS OF THE STAND- ARD, INCLUDING RELIEF VALVE DISCHARGES, FAILURE TO REPORT EXCESS EMISSIONS, FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT LEAK DETECTION, & EXCESS EMISSIONS FROM SEALS ON PUMPS. PROPOSED REMEDY: THE GOV'T HAS BEEN NEG'ING A CD WHICH WOULD REQUIRE UNION CARBIDE TO INSTALL SOME EQUIPMENT & INSTITUTE CER- TAIN OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF A CIVIL PLTY FOR PAST VIOL'S. NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: RESOLUTION OF THE CASE, WHICH INVOLVES NATIONALLY APPLICABLE STANDARDS, WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR ALL OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS INVOLVING VINYL CHLORIDE VIOL'S.

Defendants (1)

• UNION CARBIDE CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION

  40 VERONICA AVE., SOMERSET, NJ, 08873

  Registry ID: 110000322400

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNION CARBIDE CORPentered 1983-10-07

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $30,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1980-10-16Referred To Headquarters
• 1980-10-16Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1981-03-16Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-08-02Complaint Filed With Court
• 1983-10-07Final Order Lodged
• 1983-10-07Final Order Entered
• 1983-10-07Concluded
• 1984-10-23Enforcement Action Closed