EPA v. KALAMA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, INC.

Case summary

PREVIOUS MATTER NUMBER 04-93-0326. THE SITE IS LOCATED ON PORT ROYAL ISLAND IN THE LOW COUNTRY AREA OFSOUTH CAROLINA, APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES NORTH OF THE CITY OF BEAUFORT,SOUTH CAROLINA. THE SITE CONSISTS OF TWO PARCELS OF PROPERTY - THEOPERATIONS FACILITY OF KALAMA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, INC., (KSCI) AND ANADJACENT PARCEL OF PROPERTY, ONCE OPERATED AS A TRAILER PARK, BUT CURRENTLY OWNED BY KSCI. THE TRAILER PARK IS NO LONGER IN USE, AND THE FACILITY CEASED OPERATIONS IN 1983. KSCI WAS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF SPECIALTY CHEMICALS (A WIDE RANGEOF CHEMICALS PRODUCED IN SMALL, SPECIAL-ORDER BATCHES THAT MANUFACTURINGFIRMS OR LARGER CHEMICAL PRODUCERS UTILIZE IN THEIR OWN PRODUCTIONSYSTEMS) AND HERBICIDES SINCE OPERATIONS BEGAN AT THE SITE IN 1973. THE GROUNDWATER AT THE SITE IS CONTAMINATED BY SURFACE SOILS AND SEDIMENTSAS A RESULT OF THE OPERATIONS OF KSCI, AS WELL AS AN EXPLOSION AND FIREWHICH OCCURRED AT THE SITE IN JANUARY 1979. THE FIRE AND EXPLOSIONCAUSED A LARGE AMOUNT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO BE RELEASED, AND THISRELEASE WAS FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY THE 200,000 GALLONS OF WATER AND FIRECONTROL FOAM WHICH RAN OFF THE SITE AFTER BEING USED TO FIGHT THE FIRE. THE REGION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH KSCI, THE PRP AT THE ISTE, SINCE 1988,WHICH KSCI BEGAN AN RI/FS. THE RI/FS WAS FINALLY COMPLETED IN 1993,AFTER NUMEROUS DISPUTES WITH THE RPR CONTRACTOR, AS WELL AS THREATS BYEPA TO TAKE BACK THE SITE TO COMPLETE THE RI/FS. THE REGION EXPECTS TO ISSUE SPECIALNOTICE LETTERS TO THE PRP IN SEPTEMBER 1993. REFERRAL SENT 08/10/94. REFERRAL OF A SIGNED RD/RA CD TO DOJ FOR LODGING AND FILING OF A COMPLAINT. THE PRP'S HAVE AGREED TO PERFORM THE RD/RA AT THE SITE AND PAY EPA ALL COSTS IT HAS INCURRED IN RELATION TO THE SITE.

Defendants (2)

• KALAMA CHEMICAL INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• KALAMA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• KALAMA CHEMICAL CO.

  HIGHWAY 21, BEAUFORT, SC, 29902

  Registry ID: 110007215129

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• KALAMA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS INCentered 1994-12-29

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1992-10-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1993-07-01PRN Sent
• 1994-08-10Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1994-12-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 1994-12-29Concluded
• 1994-12-29Final Order Lodged
• 1994-12-29Final Order Entered