EPA v. JMC PLATING SITE

Case summary

THE JMC SITE IS A FORMER METAL PLATING FACILITY LOCATED IN LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA. THE FACILITY OPERATED FROM THE EARLY 1960'S UNTIL 1987. WHILE THE FACILITY OPERATED UNDER A SERIES OF NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL OWNERS AND OPERATORS, THE FACILITY PROCESSES REMAINED BASICALLY THE SAME OVER THE ENTIRE PERIOD. THE SMALL OPERATION INITIALLY PLATED ZINC, CADMIUM AND CHROME. IN APPROXIMATELY 1970, WHEN THE FACILITY BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY, CHROME PLATING WAS INCREASED AND NICKEL AND BRASS PLATING ADDED. THE PLATING PROCESS PRODUCED A WASTE SLUDGE CONTAINING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING CHROMIUM, NICKEL, CYANIDE, CADMIUM AND LEAD. THIS SLUDGE SPILLED AND LEAKED ON THE FACILITY GOUNDS, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE THE SLUDGE SPILLED OR WAS DUMPED DOWN A SLOPE BEHIND THE FACILITY. DURING THESE SPILLS AND DUMPINGS, THE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN THE SLUDGE WERE RELEASED INTO THE SOILS AND POSSIBLY INTO THE GROUNDWATER. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE FACILITY CLOSED DOWN IN 1987, THE OPERATOR ABANDONED NUMBEROUS DRUMS AND VATS CONTAINING PLATING SOLUTIONS AND WASTES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE FACILITY BUILDING. SEVERAL VATS APPEARED NEARLY OVERFLOWING. ACCESS TO THE WASTES WAS UNRESTRICTED.

Defendants (17)

• ARANDJELOVIC, MIROSLAVNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• BARBEE, JOSEPH WORTH SR.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• JMC FURNITURE CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• KLION, HERBERTNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MILLER TOOL COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MILLER, NANCY P.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• NEW AGE FURNITURENamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PITCHERSKY, LINDANamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PITCHERSKY, STEVENamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WALSER, GAITHERNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ZAGAROLI, DAVID PNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• BENZ CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CAROLIN CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CLINE, DALE KNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• DEFENDANTS W/SETTLEMENT 1-SETTLEMENT 2Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GALPAR INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GOLDSTEIN, EDWINNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• JMC PLATING SITE

  2 PROSPECT STREET, LEXINGTON, NC, 27293

  Registry ID: 110010768801

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• WALSER, GAITHER S.(2ND PARTIALentered 1994-12-29

  Primary law: CERCLA

• WALSER, GAITHER S.entered 1993-07-26

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1987-07-22Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1989-06-28Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1989-12-05Complaint Filed With Court
• 1994-12-29Concluded
• 1994-12-29Final Order Lodged
• 1994-12-29Final Order Entered
• 1996-08-06Enforcement Action Closed