EPA v. WED ZEB

Case summary

THE WEDZEB ENTERPRISES, INC. SITE CONSISTS OF TWO WARE- HOUSES WHICH WERE USED TO STORE CAPACITORS, MANY CONTAINING OILS, FOR SUBSEQUENT DISTRIBUTION AND RESALE. IN MAY, 1981 A FIRE DESTROYED THE WAREHOUSE, WHICH CONTAINED ABOUT 50K CAPACITORS AND CAUSED THE RELEASE OF PCB AND LOW LEVELS OF DIOXIN AND TCDF INTO THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT. THE PCB CONTAMINATED WAREHOUSE DEBRIS REMAIN ON SITE WHICH IS NEITHER SECURED NOR POSTED AND WITH NO PROTECTION FROM WIND AND RAIN. STATE & FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SAMPLED THE SITE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BEGINNING IN MAY OF 1981. MOST SAMPLES FROM THE WAREHOUSE CONTAIN MORE THAN 500 PPM PCB'S AND ONE CONTAINED 24,500 PPM DIOXIN AND TCDF WERE IN CONCENTRATIONS OF 30 TO 500 PARTS PER TRILLION. LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF PCB HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN PRAIRE CREEK. PCB MAY HAVE CONTAMINA- TED SLUDGE FROM THE LABANON SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT VIA A BASEMENT DRAIN (NOW SEALED) IN THE WAREHOUSE. GROUNDWATER IS THREATENED BECAUSE THE SOIL IS PERMEABLE, AS IS THE AQUIFIER 100 FEET BELOW. IN JUNE 1981, THE STATE REQUESTED THAT THE PRICIPAL OWNER OF WEDZEB SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL. THE CASE WAS REFERRED TO THE STATE AG FOR ACTION IN 10/81.

Defendants (2)

• DANIELS, WILLIAMNamed in complaint
• WEDZEB ENTERPRISES, INC.Named in complaint

Facilities (1)

• WEDZEB ENTERPRISES, INC.

  320 SOUTH BALLARD STREET, LEBANON, IN, 46052

  Registry ID: 110009284853

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106 — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1985-10-02Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1985-10-02Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1985-10-02Enforcement Action Closed