EPA v. CONOCO CHEMICALS (GEORGIA GULF CHEMICALS)

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: CONOCO IS A LARGE MANUFACTURER OF PETROCHEMICAL & RELATED PRODUCTS. THE ABERDEEN FACILITY IS A POLYVINYL CHLORIDE PLANT. CAUSE OF ACTION: THIS PLANT IS SUBJECT TO THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARD FOR VINYL CHLORIDE, 40 CFR SEC 61.60 ET SEQ. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE CO HAS DISCHARGED VINYL CHLORIDE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH RELIEF VALVES, IN VIOL OF THE PROHIBITION SET FORTH IN SEC 61.65(A) OF THE STANDARD. PROPOSED REMEDY: THIS CIVIL ACTION SHOULD SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF REQUIRING CONOCO TO INSTITUTE OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, OPERATOR TRAINING, & POSSIBLY INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO PREVENT FUTURE RELIEF VALVE DISCHARGES. IN ADDITION, CONOCO SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY A CIVIL PENALTY FOR PAST VIOL'S. NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: RESOLUTION OF THIS CASE, WHICH INVOLVES NATIONALLY APPLICATION STANDARDS, WILL SET PRECEDENT FOR ALL VINYL CHLORIDE ACTIONS BROUGHT BY THE GOV'T.

Defendants (1)

• CONOCO CHEM CO. (CONOCO, INC.)Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GEORGIA GULF CHEMICALS

  715 HIGHWAY 25 SOUTH, ABERDEEN, MS, 397303403

  Registry ID: 110012665990

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CONOCO, INC.entered 1985-08-19

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $100,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1980-01-02Referred To Headquarters
• 1980-02-20Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-01-31Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1984-02-01Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-08-19Final Order Entered
• 1985-08-19Concluded
• 1985-08-19Final Order Lodged
• 1987-07-14Enforcement Action Closed