EPA v. ROUSE STEEL DRUM SUPERFUND SITE

Case summary

ACTION AT THE ROUSE STEEL DRUM SUPERFUND SITE TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT OF APPROX. $1,051,271.16 IN PAST RESPONSE COSTS. THE SITE IS LOCATED IN A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA IN JACKSONVILLE, DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA. THE SITE IS BORDERED TO THE EAST BY RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND TO THE WEST BY A RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE SITE IS BORDERED TO THE NORTH BY 13TH STREET AND 11TH STREET TO THE SOUTH. THE SITE IS DIVIDED INTO 2 TRACTS OF PROPERTY BY 12TH STREET. FROM 1965 TO ROUGHLY 1989, THE ROUSE STEEL DRUM CO., INC. AND/OR ITS CORPORATE PREDECESSOR/SUCCESSOR, OPERATED A DRUM RECLAMATION FACILITY AT THE SITE. DURING ITS PERIOD OF OPERATIONS, ROUSE ACCEPTED USED 55-GALLON STEEL OR PLASTIC DRUMS FROM PULP/PAPER MILLS, AND CHEMICAL AND PETROLEUM MANUFACTURERS FOR RECONDITIONING. THESE DRUMS WERE RINSED AND CLEANED ON-SITE. EACH DRUM WAS SANDBLASTED TO REMOVE ANY RESIDUAL RUST AND THEN SPRAY PAINTED FOR RESALE AND RE-USE. WASTE WATER GENERATED FROM THIS RECLAMATION PROCESS WAS COLLECTED IN CONCRETE PITS. AFTER THE WASTE HAD GONE THROUGH AN OIL-WATER SEPARATION PROCESS IT WAS PUMPED INTO STORAGE TANKS FOR DISPOSAL BY LOCAL SEPTIC TANK COMPANIES. THE REGION BECAME AWARE OF THE SITE IN SEPTEMBER 1993, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM THE FLORIDA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO CONDUCT A REMOVAL SITE EVALUATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS EVALUATION, THE REGION DETERMINATED THAT THE SITE POSED AN IMMINENT AND SUBSTANTIAL ENDANGERMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. AS A RESULT, A REMOVAL ACTION WAS INITIATED IN THREE PHASES. PHASE 1 INCLUDED EMERGENCY STABILIZATION EFFORTS, WHICH WERE CONDUCTED IN SEPTEMBER 1993. PHASE II INCLUDED A WASTE CHARACTERIZATION STUDY, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 1994 THROUGH NOVEMBER 1996. PHASE III INCLUDED THE SITE CLEANUP, WHICH THE REGION WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE COMPLETION OF BY A PRP GROUP AND WAS CONDUCTED FROM JANUARY 1997 THROUGH APRIL 1997.

Defendants (19)

• ALLIED BENDIX, INC.
• CASTROL OILS, INC.
• SHELL OIL CO.
• SUNOCO, INC.
• SW FOREST INDUSTRIES
• UNION CAMP
• WELDEN PROPERTIESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WELDEN, JACKIE B.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CONTAINER CORP. OF AMERICA
• CORONADO PAINT CO.
• GATEWAY CHEMICAL, INC.
• INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO.
• JACK BECKER DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
• JOHNS MANVILLE CORP.
• KERR MCGHEE
• MILLENNIUM SPECIALTY CHEMICALS INC.
• MOBIL OIL CORP.
• REICHHOLD CHEMICAL
• ROUSE STEEL DRUM GROUP

Facilities (1)

• ROUSE STEEL DRUM CO

  612 12TH STREET EAST, JACKSONVILLE, FL, 322060

  Registry ID: 110002528612

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ROUSE STEEL DRUM (JACQUELINE WELDEN & WELDEN PROPEentered 2000-12-28

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2000-03-09Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2000-03-14Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-04-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 2000-12-28Final Order Lodged
• 2000-12-28Final Order Entered
• 2000-12-28Concluded