EPA v. DASCO PRODUCTS, INC.

Case summary

FROM 1958 TO 1985 THE SITE PROPERTY IN QUESTION HAS BEEN OWNED BY DASCO PRODUCTS CO. IN 1985, THE PROPERTY WAS SOLD TO AIRCRAFT TOOL SUPPLY, WHICH IS THE CURRENT OWNER. DURING THE 1960'S THE THOMPSON CORPORATION OPERATED THE SITE, EN- GAGING IN THE ASSEMBLY OF ANTI-RATTLE DEVICES FOR THE AUTO- MOBLE INDUSTRY. IN 1970, AMTEL INC., ACQUIRED THE ASSETS OF THE THOMPSON CORP. IN CONDUCTING PRODUCTION OPERATIONS, THE THOMPSON CORP USED TRICHLOROETHYLENE AS A DEGREASING SOLVENT FROM AT LEAST 1968 TO 1972, 40 TO 45 GALS PER BATCH OF SPENT TRICHLOROETHYLENE WAS DUMPED ONTO THE GROUND EVERY 2 WEEKS. IN 1974, AMTEL INC SOLD THE THOMPSON CORP TO HEDBLUM INDUS- TRIES. - HEDBLUM INDUSTRIES DISCHARGED SPRAY TANK RINSE WATER AND COOLING WATER FROM A JACKET AROUND THE DEGREASER TANK TO THE GROUND SURFACE. SINCE THESE WATER SUPPLIES ORIGINATED FROM ON-SITE WELLS, CONTAMINATION OF THE WATER DISCHARGES WITH TRICHLOROETHYLENE WAS SUSPECTED. IN 1979, HEDBLUM INDUSTRIES CHANGED ITS NAME TO RPI, INC. AND MOVED TO ANOTHER SITE. IN 1982, NUTEK LEASED THE SITE. IN 1983, RPI INC CHANGED ITS NAME TO ATS LIQUIDATION TO FACILITATE THE SALE OF THE BUSINESS TO A NEW CORPORATION OWNED BY ITS MANAGEMENT WHICH TOOK THE NAME RRI, INC. - CONTAMINATION OF THE GROUNDWATER AROUND THE PLANT SITE, AND OF SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL WELLS IN THE AUSABLE HEIGHTS AREA HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THROUGH SAMPLING CONDUCTED BY THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. SAMPLES HAVE REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE, CHLOROFORM, TETRACHLOROETHY- LENE, AND 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE. THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISED AFFECTED RESIDENTS TO CONNECT TO THE AUSABLE TOWNSHIP WATER SYSTEM.

Defendants (5)

• AIRCRAFT TOOL SUPPLYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• AMTEL INT'L/AMLKNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• DASCO PRODUCTSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• RAY INDUSTRIES
• RPI, INC.

Facilities (1)

• HEDBLUM INDUSTRIES

  1000 AU SABLE RD, OSCODA, MI, 48750

  Registry ID: 110003617239

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• DASCO PRODUCTS, INCentered 1990-03-22

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1989-07-12PRN Sent
• 1989-08-11Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1989-08-12Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1989-09-13Complaint Filed With Court
• 1990-03-22Final Order Lodged
• 1990-03-22Final Order Entered
• 1990-03-22Concluded
• 1990-03-22Enforcement Action Closed