EPA v. NATIONAL GALVANIZING SITE

Case summary

FROM APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 1982 TO MAY 1983 NATIONAL GALVANIZING, INC. OPERATED A METAL PLATING BUSINESS FIVE MILES NORTH OF TRAVELERS REST, SOUTH CAROLINA. DURING THE PROCESS OF CLEANING THE METALS PRIOR TO THE ZINC PLATING STAGE THE FACILITY GENERATED A WASTEWATER WHICH WAS A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE. IN THE INITIAL DAYS OF ITS OPERATION, NATIONAL GALVANIZING PERIODICALLY NEUTRALIZED ITS WASTEWATERS IN AN ONSITE WASTEWATER PRETREATMENT PLANT. IN 1982, WHEN ONE OF THE PROCESS TANKS CRACKED, THE COMPANY BEGAN STORING ITS EXCESS WASTEWATER IN TWO (2) ABOVE GROUND PORTABLE SWIMMING POOLS, LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONAL GALVANIZING FACILITY. IN 1983, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL (DHEC) NOTIFIED NATIONAL GALVANIZING THAT ITS WASTEWATERS WERE BEING GENERATED WITHOUT AN APPROVED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN AND REQUESTED THAT THE PROCESS WASTEWATERS BE REMOVED FROM THE SWIMMING POOLS. A JUNE 9, 1983 DHEC SAMPLING INSPECTION REVEALED THE WASTEWATERS IN THESE POOLS POSSESSED A PH VALUE OF * TO * AND WERE THEREFORE CORROSIVE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. THESE LAB RESULTS ALSO REVEALED HIGH LEVELS OF CHROMIUM, IRON, NICKEL AND ZINC IN THE WASTEWATER.

Defendants (5)

• NATIONAL GALVANIZINGNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PERRY, ELIZABETHNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PERRY, ROGERNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CAROLINA GALVANIZING CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• G & G ENTERPRISESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• NATIONAL GALVANIZING INC

  HWY 276 W, TRAVELERS REST, SC, 29690

  Registry ID: 110004940011

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• NATIONAL GALVANIZING INC. (04-1990-C022)entered 1990-09-19

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1988-06-30Referred To Headquarters
• 1988-07-27Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1989-01-17Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1989-01-20Complaint Filed With Court
• 1990-09-19Final Order Lodged
• 1990-09-19Final Order Entered
• 1990-09-19Concluded
• 1991-10-09Enforcement Action Closed