EPA v. MORTON THIOKOL CORP ET AL (GOOSE FARM)

Case summary

FROM 1945 TO SOMETIME DURING THE MID 70'S, THIOKOL CORP. DISPOSED OF CHEMICAL WASTES AT THE GOOSE FARM SITE IN PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, N.J. AS A RESULT OF THIOKOL'S DISPOSAL OPERATIONS, THE UPPER GROUNDWATER TABLE UNDERLYING THE SITE BECAME CONTAMINATED. THIS GROUNDWATER LIES ABOVE THE VINCETOWN AQUIFER WHICH SERVES A LARGE PORTION OF CENTRAL N.J. IN ADDITION, CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES FROM THE SITE HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO LAHAWAY CREEK, A TRIBUTARY OF THE DELAWARE RIVER. ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE UPPER GROUNDWATER AQUIFER AND LAHAWAY CREEK HAVE SHOWN THE FOLLOWING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO BE PRESENT: ARSENIC, BENZENE, ADIPIC ACID, ANTIMONY, BERYLLIUM, CADMIUM, AHLOROFORM, CHROMIUM, ENDRIN, ETHYBENZENE, ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE, LEAD, LINDANE, MERCURY, NAPHTHALENE, NICKEL, PENTACHLOROPHENOL, PHENOLS, SELENIUM, STYRENE, TOLUENE, TRICHLOROETHYLENE, VINYLINDENE CHLORIDE, XYLENES, AND ZINC. ON AUGUST 25, 1980, THE STATE OF N.J. BEGAN EMERGENCY CLEANUP OPERATIONS AT THE GOOSE FARM SITE TO REMOVE CONTAINERIZED HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND DECONTAMINATE THE UPPER GROUNDWATER. IN OCT 1980, BASED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE STATE, EPA ASSUMED FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CLEANUP ACTION, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF SECTION 311 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA). THE EMERGENCY ACTION MONIES WERE ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD AND ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE FOR N.J. TO CONTINUE THE EMERGENCY REMOVAL ACTIONS AND BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH ACTIONS FROM THE SECTION 311(K)FUND OF THE CWA IN ACCORDANCE WITH PART 1510.65(H) OF THE NATIONAL OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN (40 C.F.R. SECTION 1510 ET SEQ.). ON OR ABOUT 12/11/80 EPA & THE COAST GUARD AGREED THAT FUNDING FOR THE EMERGENCY ACTION AT THE SITE WOULD BE ADMINISTERED UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT OF 1980 (CERCLA), IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRANSFER OF SECTION 311(K) FUNDS TO THE CERCLA RESPONSE TRUST FUND (RTF) PURSUANT TO SECTION 221(B)(3)(A) OF CERCLA. ACCORDINGLY, THE COAST GUARD CONTINUED TO FUND THE EMERGENCY REMOVAL OPERATIONS AND REIMBURSE THE STATE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT EPA WOULD REIMBURSE THE COAST GUARD UPON TRANSFER OF SECTION 311(K) FUNDS TO THE RTF. THE US GOVERNMENT HAS REIMBURSED THE STATE, FROM THE SECTION 311(K) FUND THE CWA AND THE RTF. THE GOOSE FARM SITE IS DESIGNATED IN GROUP 4 OF THE NAT'L PRIORITY LIST. Supplemental referral sent on March 11, 2026, requesting modification of the SOW to incorporate additional work needed as a result of the amended remedy, as well as updating payment instructions for oversight costs, individuals and entities receiving notices and deliverables under the Consent Decree, and review and approval of deliverables.

Defendants (5)

• ELLICOT, DOUGLASNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• HOPKINS, DAYTON G.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• LOUIE, JOSEPH Y.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• LOUIE, MAR LAI GANNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MORTON THIOKOL CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GOOSE FARM

  RT. 539 BETWEEN RTS 537 & 528, NEW EGYPT, NJ, 08533

  Registry ID: 110009299954

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MORTON THIOKOL (GOOSE FARM)entered 1988-11-04

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1982-10-04Referred To Headquarters
• 1983-01-25Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-12-09Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-12-09Complaint Filed With Court
• 1988-11-04Final Order Lodged
• 1988-11-04Final Order Entered
• 2026-03-11Supplemental Referral-Other