EPA v. SCRDI (DREYFUS & ASSEMBLY STS)

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: THE DREYFUS STREET SITE, LOCATED IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS OPERATED AS A DRUM STORAGE SITE BY SOUTH CAROLINA RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL, INC. (SCRDI) BETWEEN 1977 AND 1981. BETWEEN 400 AND 600 DRUMS IN VARYING STAGES OF DISREPAIR WERE STORED AT THE SITE DURING ITS PERIOD OF OPERATION. SINCE SCRDI OPERATED SEVERAL SITES IN THE COLUMBIA AREA AND MOVED DRUMS AMONG THE SITES, THE NUMBER OF DRUMS STORED AT THE DREYFUS STREET VARIED. THE SITE IS LOCATED IN AN AREA OF THE CITY WHERE THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AUTO AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, INCLUDING CHILDREN, AND THUS POSED A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT IN ADDITION TO THE RISK OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARM. THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL (DHEC) INITIATED LITAGATION AGAINST SCRDI AND THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, COLUMBIA STEEL AND METAL COMPANY, INC. (CSMCI), BUT THE SUIT WAS UNSUCCESS- FUL, PRIMARILY BECAUSE SCRDI WAS PRACTICALLY IN SOLVENT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE CSMCI FOUGHT THE ISSUE OF LIABILITY ADAMANTLY. IN SEPTEMBER 1981, CERCLA FUNDS WERE AUTHORIZED FOR AN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL ACTION, WHICH WAS COMPLETED OCTOBER 30 AND COST OVER $300,000. THE CASE WAS REFERRED TO EPA HQ ON APRIL 26, 1982, AND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1982, FOR FILING AS CERCLA COST RECOVERY ACTION. THE COMPLAINT AND DISCOVERY REQUESTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING REVISED BY DOJ.

Defendants (23)

• EATON CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ALLIED CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• AMERICAN CYNAMID CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• AQUAIR CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ARAPAHOE CHEMICALS INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CELANESE CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CIBA-GEIGY CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• COLUMBIA STEEL & METAL CO., INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• EM INDUSTRIES, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• EMERSON ELECTRIC CONamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• THIOKOL CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• MILLIKEN & CO., INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• MONSANTO CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• RAD SERVICES, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• SCRDI-DREYFUS & ASSEMBLY STSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• SUN TECH., INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GERGLE, MAX G.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• INMONT CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MCCLURE, JAMES Q. A.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• TISCHLER, HENRYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• UNION CARBIDE CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SOUTH CAROLINA RECYC AND DISP

  321 BLUFF ROAD, COLUMBIA, SC, 29209

  Registry ID: 110008549026

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SCRDI (DREYFUS & ASSEMBLY STS)entered 1985-01-28

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1982-04-26Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-09-09Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-05-13Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-06-24Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-01-28Final Order Lodged
• 1985-01-28Final Order Entered
• 1985-01-28Concluded
• 1985-01-28Enforcement Action Closed