EPA v. AMERICAN RADIOCHEMICAL CORPORATION

Case summary

THIS IS A PROPOSED ACTION AGAINST THE AMERICAN RADIO- CHEMICAL CORPORATION (ARC) ET. AL. UNDER SECTION 107 OF CERCLA TO RECOVER PAST COSTS OF A REMOVAL ACTION INCURRED IN RESPONDING TO THE RELEASE AND THREATENED RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AT THE SITE. THIS CASE INVOLVES THE ARC SITE LOCATED IN SANFORE, FL. THE SITE IS LOCATED ON CARRIER AVENUE, BUILDING NO. 137, AT SANFORD INDUSTRIAL PARK IN SANFORD, FL. ARC LEASED THE BUILDING FROM THE CITY OF SANFORD IN 1969. IN 1971 PURSUANT TO A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ACT, THE SANFORD AIRPORT AUTHORITY TOOK OVER THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SANFORD AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND INDUSTRIAL PARK. THE INDUSTRIAL PARK INCUDES THE SITE. ARC WAS ENGAGED IN THE SYNTHESES AND PREPARATION OF CARBON 14. ARC FUSED CARBON 14 TO EXPERIMEN- TAL DRUGS, PLANT FOODS OR MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY CUSTOMERS WHO WANTED TO USE A GEIGER COUNTER TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF DRUGS AND FOOD DURING TESTS ON ANIMALS AND IN THE SOIL. ARC USED OVER 1400 CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING RADIOACTIVE CHEMICALS. IN LATE 1982, CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND AT THE SITE BY STATE OF FLORIDAY INSPECTIONS. SOON THEREAFTER, THE LABORATORY WAS ABANDONED AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO PREVENT ON MITIGATE FURTHER CONTAMINATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. ON DECEMBER 20, 1985, EPA VISITED AND SURVEYED THE SITE. THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A RELEASE OR THREAT OF RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AT THE SITE. ANALYSIS REVEALED THE PRESENSE OF MANY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INCLUDING CYANIDE, TNT, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, ACETALDEHYDE, ALAMINE, BENZENE, ENDRIN, ALCOHOL AND GASOLINE BASED LIQUIDS, COMPRESSED GASES, AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. THE EPA UNDERTOOK AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE ACTION BEGINNING MAY 19, 1986, AND ENDING MARCH 26, 1987, WITH AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $255,980.00 AS OF JUNE 14, 1989. THE REMOVAL ACTION INCLUDED DECONTAMINATING THE PERMANENT FIXTURES, I.E. WALLS, FLOORS, ETC., DOWN TO LEVELS ACCEPTABLE TO THE FLORIDA RADIOLOGICAL SERVICES AND REMOVING ALL NON- PERMANENT ITEMS AND DISPOSING THEN AT FEDERALLY-APPROVED FACILITIES. NOTICE LETTERS WERE SENT TO THE DEFENDANTS ON MAY 1, 1986 GIVING THEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFROM THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL ACTION AT THE SITE. EACH RESPONDED (FOR VARIOUS REASONS) THAT THEY WERE NOT WILLING OR WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM THE REMOVAL ACTION DEMAND AND INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WERE SENT TO THE DEFENDANTS ON MAY 9, 1989.

Defendants (4)

• AMERICAN RADIOCHEMICAL CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• JORDAN, HAROLDNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• SANFORD AIRPORT AUTHORITYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• SANFORD, CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• AMERICAN RADIOCHEMICAL SITE

  BLDG 137 CARRIER AVE, SANFORD, FL, 32772

  Registry ID: 110010768810

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SANFORD AIRPORT AUTHORITYentered 1991-03-11

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1989-06-29Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1989-06-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1991-02-22Complaint Filed With Court
• 1991-03-11Final Order Lodged
• 1991-03-11Final Order Entered
• 1991-03-11Concluded
• 1993-05-26Enforcement Action Closed