EPA v. MEMPHIS CONTAINER DRUM SITE

Case summary

MEMPHIS CONTAINER, ALSO KNOWN AS TRI-STATE DRUM, WAS A DRUM RECYCLING CUSINESS OWNED BY LUCILLE RYAN AND OPERATED BY MICHAEL P. EASON. MEMPHIS CONTAINER WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF ACCEPTING 55-GALLON DRUMS FROM VARIOUS COMPANIES IN THE MEMPHIS AREA. MANY OF THESE DRUMS HELD PRODUCTS RANGING FROM CHEMICALS, HERBICIDES, PAINTS, INKS, SOLVENTS, OIL, PRIMERS AND GLUE. ONCE THE DRUMS WERE RECEIVED BY THE OPERATOR THE CONTENTS AND RESIDUES WERE DISPOSED OF IN VATS ON SITE, THE DRUMS WERE RINSED, PAINTED, AND THEN SOLD. IN 1991, AFTER BEING ON SITE SINCE 1985, MR. EASON WAS EVICTED BY THE LANDOWNER, MRS. RYAN. MR. EASON LEFT BEHIND 9,000 DRUMS IN VARYING STAGES OF DETERIORATION. EPA WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A THREAT OF A RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. A REMOVAL WAS CONDUCTED WHICH ENDED IN MARCH 95.

Defendants (13)

• BUCKMAN LABORATORIES, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CHAPMAN CHEMICALNamed in settlement
• CRODA INKS CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• DREXEL CHEMICALNamed in settlement
• EASON, MICHAEL P.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• EZONNamed in settlement
• IBC MANUFACTURING COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MEMPHIS LIGHT GAS WATER DIVISIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• P.C.S. NITROGENNamed in settlement
• PERMA-FIX OF MEMPHIS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• PRO-SERVENamed in settlement
• RYAN, LUCILLENamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• W.R. GRACENamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• MEMPHIS CONTAINER CO INC

  1761 WARFORD ST, MEMPHIS, TN, 38108

  Registry ID: 110009446689

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• MEMPHIS CONTAINER DRUM SITEentered 1999-09-09

  Primary law: CERCLA

• MEMPHIS CONTAINER DRUM (LUCILLE RYAN)entered 2000-09-07

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1998-05-08Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1998-07-14Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1998-09-30Complaint Filed With Court
• 2000-09-07Final Order Entered
• 2000-09-07Final Order Lodged
• 2002-01-22Concluded
• 2002-01-22Enforcement Action Closed