EPA v. U.S. DEPT OF NAVY (NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER)

Case summary

ON JULY 7, 2014, THE REGION ISSUED AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 1431 OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT, 42 U.S. C. SECTION 300i, TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (NAVY), NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER-WARMINISTER, WARMINISTER, PA (NAWC) FOR THE NAVY TO TAKE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION FROM PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS KNOWN A PERFLUROOCTANOAIC ACID (PFOA) AND PERFLUOROOCTANESULFONIC ACID (PFOS). THE CONCENTRACTION OF PFOS EXCEED EPA'S PROVISIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY (PHA) IN TWO PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WELLS SERVING THE CITY OF WARMINISTER, WELL NO. 26 AND WELL NO. 13. PURSUANT TO THE ORDER, THE NAVY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR THE WELLS OR AN ALTERNATE WATER SUPPLY FOR RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION, IF PRIVATE WELLS SHOW CONTAMINANT LEVELS ABOVE THE PHA, THE NAVY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR SUCH WELLS OR ASSIST RESIDENTS IN CONNECTING THE CITY'S PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. WELL NOs. 26 AND 13 ARE CURRENTLY TURNED OFF UNTIL SUCH TIME AS TREATMENT SYSTEMS CAN BE INSTALLED. IN A SEPARATE INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIORONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY ACT (CERCLA), THE NAVY HAS REQUESTED THAT THE REGION CONDUCT CERTAIN REMOVAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CONTRACTING RESIDENTS WITH PRIVATE WELLS, SAMPLING SUCH WELLS AND SUPPLYING BOTTLED WATER IF NECESSARY FOR A SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD.

Defendants (1)

• U.S. DEPT OF NAVYNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER (NAWC)

  4911 S BROAD ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19112-1403

  Registry ID: 110060263165

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1412/1414 — National Drinking Water Regulations
• SDWA 1431-UIC — Emergency Powers/UIC
• SDWA 1412 — Nat'l Drinking Water Compliance Schedule - Effective Date

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• U.S. DEPT OF NAVY (NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER)entered 2014-07-07

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2014-07-07Final Order Issued
• 2014-07-24Enforcement Action Data Entered