EPA v. ASHLAND, INC.

Case summary

1. THIS CASE IS BEING DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT. 2. SCREEN STRATEGY EFFORT (NESSE), AN OECA EFFORT TO SCREEN LARGE CORPORATIONS WITH MULTIPLE FACILITIES TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS. ASHLAND, INC., IS ONE OF THREE CORPORATIONS TARGETED FOR FURTHER REVIEW UNDER NESSE. THE ASHLAND NESSE TEAM FOCUSED ON THE THREE PETROLEUM REFINERIES OPERATED BY ASHLAND IN CATLETTSBURG, KY; CANTON, OH; AND ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. EPA (REGION 4, REGION 5, AND OECA) PERSONNEL AND NEIC CONDUCTED MULTI-MEDIA INSPECTIONS OF THREE REFINERIES IN FALL 1996. BASED UPON THESE INSPECTION OF THREE REFINERIES IN FALL 1996. BASED UPON THESE INSPECTIONS EPA DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE VIOLATIONS OF CAA, CWA, RCRA, SDWA, AND EPCRA AT CATLETTSBURG, AND CAA, CWA, AND RCRA AT CANTON AND ST. PAUL. EPA IS SEEKING A MAJOR PENALTY FROM ASHLAND FOR THESE VIOLATIONS, ALONG WITH INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THAT SHOULD INCLUDE: BENZENE AND HYDROCARBON WASTEWATER CONTROLS ENHANCEMENT AT ONE OR MORE REFINERIES; BETTER CONTROL OF SO2 AND PARTICULATE EMISSIONS AT CANTON; IMPROVED LAB TESTING PROCEDURES FOR WATER AND WASTE ANALYSIS AT ALL TIME FACILITIES; AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION AT ALL THREE FACILITIES. EPA IS ALSO LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE SEPS AT ONE OR MORE REFINERIES. THREE FACILITIES: ASHLAND PETROLEUM REFINERY 8023 CRIDER DRIVE CATLETTSBURG, KY 41129 ASHLAND PETROLEUM COMPANY CANTON REFINERY 2408 GAMBRINUS ROAD, SW. CANTON, OH 44711 ASHLAND PETROLEUM COMPANY 100 WEST THIRD STREET ST. PAUL PARK, MINNESOTA 55071

Defendants (1)

• ASHLAND, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• ASHLAND PETROLEUM REFINERY

  8023 CRIDER DR REFINERY COMPLEX, CATLETTSBURG, KY, 41129

  Registry ID: 110040619532

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants
• SDWA 1431 — Emergency Powers
• RCRA 3008H — Interim Status Corrective Action Order
• EPCRA 304 — Emergency Release Notification Section 313 Program
• TSCA 15 — Prohibited Acts
• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ASHLAND, INC.entered 1999-01-22

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $3,097,512

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1997-06-26Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1997-06-26Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1998-10-01Final Order Lodged
• 1998-10-01Complaint Filed With Court
• 1999-01-22Final Order Entered
• 1999-01-22Concluded
• 2006-10-17Enforcement Action Closed