EPA v. GEORGE P. BISSELL CO. ET AL

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: APPROX 125 DRUMS OF WASTE WERE DEPOSITED IN AN ABANDONED CLAY QUARRY NEAR NO. EAST MD., THE QUARRY IS NOW LOCATED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. INVESTIGATIONS REVEAL THAT THE MOST LIKELY DATE FOR THE DRUM DISPOSAL WAS 8/69. SINCE THE DISPOSAL, THE DRUMS HAVE BEGUN TO DETERIORATE. THERE ARE 2 SMALL PONDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE QUARRY PIT WHICH DRAIN INTO A SMALL STREAM ADJACENT TO THE SITE. THE STEAM RUNS THROUGH A LARGE TRAILER PARK AND EMPTIES INTO STONEY CREEK. EPA TESTS REVEAL THAT ORGANIC CHEMICALS ARE ENTERING THESE SURFACE WATERS FROM THE TWO SMALL PONDS. WATER, SOIL & AIR SAMPLING SHOW THE PRESENCE OF BOTH HAL- OGENATED AND NON-HALOGENATED ORGANIC SOLVENTS, AS WELL AS LOW LEVELS OF PESTICIDES, WHICH CORRELATE WITH MATERIALS FOUND IN THE DRUMS. STATE & FED PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE SITE POSES A HUMAN HEALTH RISK. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTION, INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF A FILTER FENCE AND REMOVAL OF SEVERAL DRUMS, TOOK PLACE FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 1982. APPROX $44,000 CERCLA EMERGENCY MONIES WERE SPENT AT THE SITE, & $75,250 OF OTHER FEDERAL MONIES WERE SPENT THERE. THE STATE OF MD HAS SPENT APPROX. $86,000 IN RESPONSE ACTIVI- TIES AT THE SITE. EPA REGION 3 HAS SUBMITTED TO HEADQUAR- TERS A FURTHER REQUEST FOR PLANNED REMOVAL ACTIVITIES AT THE SITE, INCLUDING REMOVAL & PROPER DISPOSAL OF ALL DRUMS.

Defendants (11)

• GALAXY CHEMICAL, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• MARISOL, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• MONTGOMERY BROTHERS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• MRAZ, PAUL J.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• MRAZ, SALLY K.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• PEMIL, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• SQUIBH PHARMECEUTICALS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• W.L. GORE ASSOCIATES, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• WATER, J.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• WYETH LABS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• E.I. DUPONT DENEMOURS AND CO., INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• NORTH EAST SITE

  UNOBTAINABLE, NORTH EAST, MD, 21901

  Registry ID: 110010584590

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GEORGE P. BISSELL CO. ET ALentered 1986-05-19

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1982-09-29Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-11-03Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-10-19Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-10-26Complaint Filed With Court
• 1986-05-19Final Order Lodged
• 1986-05-19Final Order Entered
• 1986-05-19Concluded
• 1988-12-30Enforcement Action Closed