EPA v. Lawrence Aviation Industries, Inc. et. al.

Case summary

Judgment entered holding liable Defendants for environmental cleanup costs and penalties under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. As proven at trial, the Defendants, in violation of several environmental laws and regulations, discharged a number of hazardous substances at the Port Jefferson facility on Long Island that could pose threats to human health and the environment. The Court found that, in addition to contaminating the facility itself, the Defendants were responsible for a mile-long contaminant plume in the groundwater beneath Port Jefferson. The Court's judgment found the Defendants jointly liable for $48,116,024.31 in costs incurred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in cleaning up the site, and imposed civil penalties of $750,000 against both Defendants, individually, for their failure to comply with requests for information issued by EPA. On May 12, 2023, the federal district court for the Eastern District of New York granted a motion to enter a consent decree relating to the site. In entering the settlement, the Court found that the consent decree, which resolved the only remaining claim in the litigation of this site, to be fair, reasonable, and consistent with the purpose of CERCLA. On June 25, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York approved an amendment to the consent decree. The CD amendment memorializes a revised sale proposal by the Suffolk County Landbank for 125 acres of property associated with the Site and distribution of proceeds of the sale among competing creditors. The proposal includes transferring a significant portion of the Site property to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which should lead to electrification of an LIRR line that currently uses diesel equipment, as well as development of a solar farm on another portion and utilization of a portion as open space. The redevelopment proposal necessitated an amendment to the original May 2023 CD to account for waivers and changes to reflect Suffolk County essentially underwriting the sale to the MTA.

Defendants (3)

• Lawerence Aviation Industries, IncNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Cohen, GeraldNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• One Hundred Twenty-Five Acres of Land, NYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• LAWRENCE AVIATION INDUSTRIES, INC.

  SHEEP PASTURE RD., PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY, 117762220

  Registry ID: 110071099905

• LAWRENCE AVIATION INDUSTRIES, INC.

  SHEEP PASTURE ROAD, PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY, 11776

  Registry ID: 110071099905

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 104E2 — Information and/or Access
• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (3)

• Lawrence Aviation Industries, Inc. et. al.entered 2025-06-25

  Primary law: CERCLA

• Lawrence Aviation Industries, Inc. et. al.entered 2019-04-15

  Primary law: CERCLA

  Federal penalty: $1,500,000

• Lawrence Aviation Industries, Inc. et. al.entered 2023-05-12

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2005-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2005-10-04Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2006-09-06Complaint Filed With Court
• 2025-06-18Final Order Lodged
• 2025-06-25Final Order Entered