EPA v. HYDROMEX SUPERFUND SITE

Case summary

6/10/2020 - ADMINISTRATIVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ON CONSENT FOR REMOVAL ACTIONS. U.S. Technology (U.S. Tech) is a company organized under the laws of the State of Ohio. U.S. Tech was in the business of selling and leasing blast media (i.e., plastic, glass, aluminum oxide and urea) to be used to strip paint from airplanes and equipment. The customer/user would spray the blast media against a painted metal surface to remove the paint without damage to the remaining surface. During use, the blast media in some instances could become contaminated with toxic characteristic levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, chromium and lead, and after use was known as Spent Blast Media (SBM). The standard disposal practice for waste exhibiting a characteristic of toxicity would be to dispose of it at a permitted hazardous waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility. However, U.S. Tech represented to its customers, including Performing Respondents and SFAs, that the SBM could be recycled in compliance with RCRA and contracted with its customers for recycling of SBM. From 2000 to 2002, U.S. Tech contracted with Hydromex, Inc. (Hydromex) to recycle the SBM from U.S. Tech�s customers by mixing the SBM with cement to manufacture concrete blocks to be used in construction. In some instances, U.S. Tech arranged for the direct transportation of SBM from its customers� facilities to the Site while on other occasions U.S. Tech transported the SBM from customers� facilities to U.S. Tech�s own facilities and subsequently shipped the SBM from its facilities to the Site. AAR is a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. AAR was a U.S. Tech customer and blast media user. From at least February 2002 through September 2002, SBM from AAR was transported to the Site.

Defendants (9)

• AAR LANDING GEAR CORPORATIONNamed in settlement
• U.S. COAST GUARDNamed in settlement
• U.S. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNamed in settlement
• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSENamed in settlement
• SPACE GATEWAY SUPPORT, LLCNamed in settlement
• GOODRICH CORPORATIONNamed in settlement
• BF GOODRICHNamed in settlement
• LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONNamed in settlement
• THE BOEING COMPANYNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• HYDROMEX, INC.

  700 INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY, YAZOO CITY, MS, 39194

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HYDROMEX SUPERFUND SITEentered 2020-05-19

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2020-05-19Final Order Issued
• 2020-06-10Enforcement Action Data Entered