EPA v. VIACOM INTERNATIONAL, INC

Case summary

EPA ENTERED INTO A CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER ON CONSENT ( ORDER ) IN CONNECTION WITH THE PALMERTON ZINC PILE SUPERFUND SITE ( SITE ) IN PALMERTON, CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, PURSUANT TO SECTION 106 OF CERCLA. THE ORDER PROVIDES THAT EPA WILL MAKE SAMPLING AND OTHER DATA COLLECTED BY EPA IN THE PERFORMANCE OF A REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY ( RI/FS ) IN CONNECTION WITH OPERABLE UNIT 4 ( OU 4 ) OF THE SITE AVAILABLE TO VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC. ( VIACOM ) AND REQUIRES THAT VIACOM TREAT SUCH INFORMATION AS PRIVILEGED. EPA HAS COLLECTED EXTENSIVE SAMPLING AND OTHER DATA AS PART OF ITS RI/FS ACTIVITIES FOR OU 4, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESIDENTIAL WELL SAMPLING. EPA BELIEVES THAT THIS DATA, AS WELL AS INTRA-AGENCY DOCUMENTS OR CORRESPONDENCE CONTAINING DELIBERATIONS AND/OR CONCLUSIONS WHICH ARE PRE-DECISIONAL ARE PRIVILEGED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 5 U.S.C. SEC. 552. VIACOM HAS INDICATED ITS WILLINGNESS TO TAKE OVER THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RI/FS FOR OU 4 AND EPA AND VIACOM BELIEVE THAT HAVING ACCESS TO THE DATA WOULD BE USEFUL TO VIACOM IN ITS EFFORTS TO COMPLETE THE RI/FS FOR OU 4. UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS ORDER, EPA IS RELEASING THE DATA TO VIACOM AND VIACOM HAS AGREED TO TREAT THE INFORMATION RELEASED TO IT BY EPA AS PRIVILEGED.

Defendants (1)

• VIACOM INTERNATIONAL, INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (9)

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• PALMERTON ZINC SITE

  401 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• VIACOM INTERNATIONAL, INCentered 2004-10-28

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2004-10-14Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2004-10-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2004-10-28Final Order Issued