EPA v. INLAND-ROME INC. (GEORGIA KRAFT, COMPANY INC.)

Case summary

GEORGIA KRAFT COMPANY, INC. MANUFACTURES UNBLEACHED CON- TAINER BOARDS. ON APRIL 27, 1987, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 P.M., A HEAVY BLACK LIQUOR HOLDING TANK LOCATED IN ROME, GEORGIA, RUPTURED ALONG A DEFECTIVE WELD. HEAVY BLACK LIQUOR IS A PULPING BY-PRODUCT CONTAINING SODIUM SULFIDE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE (A LISTED HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE), ORGANIC AND INORGANIC WOOD SOLIDS AND WATER. THE ONE MILLION GALLON TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 900,000 GALLONS OF BLACK LIQUOR AT THE TIME OR THE SPILL; THE ENTIRE CONTENTS WERE LOST AND THE CONTAINMENT DIKE SURROUNDING THE TANK WAS UNABLE TO CONTAIN THE SPILL. A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIQUOR WASHED OVER INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CONTAINMENT DIKE AND FROM THERE INTO CABIN SMITH CREEK, A TRIBUTARY OF THE COOSA RIVER. THIS IS AN UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE AND IS PROHIBITED BY SECTION 311(B) OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT, 33 U.S.C. SECTION 1321(B). ALSO DAMAGE BY THE SPILL WAS A 500,000 GALLON TANK OF NUMBER 6 FUEL OIL THAT WAS ABOUT HALF FULL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. COMPANY OFFICIALS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ACTUALLY SPILLED. ALL FUEL OIL THAT DID LEAK WAS CONTAINED WITHIN THE DIKED AREA.

Defendants (1)

• GEORGIA KRAFT, COMPANY, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• INLAND-ROME INC/GA KRAFT

  1700 REDMOND DR, ROME, GA, 30161

  Registry ID: 110010758830

Statutes cited

• CWA 311 — Oil and Hazardous Substance Liability

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• INLAND-ROME, INC.entered 1990-08-13

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $30,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1988-06-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1988-07-08Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1989-02-22Complaint Filed With Court
• 1990-08-13Final Order Lodged
• 1990-08-13Final Order Entered
• 1990-08-13Concluded
• 1990-08-13Enforcement Action Closed