EPA v. South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage LLC et al.

Case summary

EPA completed a removal action at the South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage Site in August 2016. DOJ filed a complaint against the owner and operator of the Site seeking reimbursement of response costs incurred or to be incurred by EPA for response actions taken or to be taken at or in connection with the release or threatened release of hazardous substances at the Site. The court thereafter entered a Stipulation of Judgment resolving the United States' claims asserted in the complaint, including a stipulation that defendants were jointly and severally liable for CERCLA response costs in the amount of $981,871.27, plus interest. On February 18, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey entered a consent decree in the tax foreclosure action entitled City of Vineland v. Vineland Ice and Storage, LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-2444-CPO-MJS. The United States was named a defendant in the case as it holds a CERCLA lien on the Vineland, New Jersey property that is the subject of the foreclosure action. EPA performed a removal action at the property in 2016, removing 9,700 pounds of anhydrous ammonia from a cold storage warehouse and ice block manufacturing facility, and holds a lien in the amount of its response costs (approximately $980k). The owner and operator of the property are defunct and unable to reimburse EPA for such costs. The City of Vineland consent decree allows the City to foreclose on the property without impact to EPA?s CERCLA lien. EPA may not seek a judicial sale of the property or foreclose under CERCLA. In return, if the City sells the property, it must pay the United States the sales proceeds up to the amount of the lien, and if the City uses the property for income-generating purposes, the City must negotiate another agreement with EPA entitling EPA to a percentage of future income until the lien is satisfied in full.

Defendants (5)

• 544 E. Pear Street Block 3009, Lot 1Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• Vineland Ice and Storage, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Summit BankNamed in settlement
• Enterprise Zone Dev Corp of Vineland and MillvilleNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SOUTH JERSEY ICE AND COLD STORAGE

  544 EAST PEAR STREET, VINELAND, NJ, 08360

  Registry ID: 110069434767

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107L — Lien
• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• City of Vinelandentered 2026-02-18

  Primary law: CERCLA

• South Jersey Ice and Cold Storage LLC et al.entered 2021-10-18

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2020-08-20Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2020-08-20Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2020-08-21Complaint Filed With Court
• 2025-06-02Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2025-09-12Final Order Lodged
• 2026-02-18Final Order Entered