EPA v. MIAMI DRUM SERVICES, INC. (AKA BISCAYNE AQUIFIER)

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: MIAMI DRUM SERVICES, INC. OPERATED A DRUM CLEANING AND RECYCLING FACILITY IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA OF MIAMI FOR 15 YEARS. SEVERAL THOUSAND DRUMS CONTAINING CHEMICAL WASTE MATERIALS WERE HANDLED ON THE APPROXIMATELY ONE-ACRE SITE. DRUMS CONTAINING INDUSTRIAL SOLVENTS, ACIDS, METALS AND OTHER WASTES WERE ROUTINELY WASHED WITH CAUSTIC CLEANING SOLUTIONS AND RECYCLED. SPILLS AND PERCOLATION OF CONTAMINATED WASTEWATER SOLUTIONS SATURATED THE SOIL ON THE SITE AND THE GROUNDWATER OF THE BISCAYNE AQUIFER. IN FEBRUARY 1981, DADE COUNTY DISCOVERED CONTAMINATION ON THE SITE AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, TOOK LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MIAMI DRUM SERVICES TO REQUIRE THEM TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF CON TAMINATION AND TO CLEAN UP THE SITE. THE FACILITY CEASED OP- ERATIONS IN APRIL 1981 AS A RESULT OF A COURT ORDER OBTAINED BY DADE COUNTY.

Defendants (11)

• BALL, FREDNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• BALL, MELVIN J.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• EASTERN AIRLINESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• FAYE, BALLNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• KEY PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• LISTED BELOW/RESPONSIBLE PARTY GENERATORNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ALLEN CHEMICALNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ALLIED PHOTO OFFSET SUPPLY CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• APPERSON CHEMICALNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ARGO INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY,INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• ATLANTIC COAST ELECTRONICSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• DADE CO TRANSPORTATION ADMIN

  7049 N W 70 STREET, MIAMI, FL, 331520

  Registry ID: 110064320578

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund
• CERCLA 104A — CERCLA 104(a)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MIAMI DRUM SERVICES INC.entered 1987-02-25

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1984-11-13Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-01-07Complaint Filed With Court
• 1987-02-25Final Order Lodged
• 1987-02-25Final Order Entered
• 1987-02-25Concluded
• 1997-08-28Enforcement Action Data Entered