EPA v. ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC.

Case summary

THIS LETTER IS TO REFER TO YOUR OFFICE FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION A MATTER INVOLVING ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC., LOCATED IN GRANDVILLE, MICHIGAN , AND ITS PARENT COMPANY, SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, LOCATED IN WYOMING, MICHIGAN. AS DESCRIBED MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE ATTACHED LITIGATION REPORT, BOTH ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. AND SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY ARE CHAPTER 7 DEBTORS IN THE BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN. THE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. SITE WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES IN SEPTEMBER 1983; THE SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY SITE WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST IN NOVEMBER 1983. ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. IS THE PRESENT OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE SOLVENT RECYCLING AND CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN GRANDVILLE, MICHIGAN , AND IS A SUBSIDIARY OF SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY. SPARTAN CHEMICAL OWNED AND OPERATED THE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. FACILITY FROM 1968 TO 1979; FROM 1968 TO THE PRESENT, SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY ACCEPTED HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES FOR TRANSPORT TO THE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. SITE. SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY IS ALSO THE PRESENT OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION AND PACKAGING CENTER IN WYOMING, MICHIGAN. BOTH ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. AND SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY ARE LIABLE UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY ACT, 42 U.S. C. SECTION 9601 ET SEQ., AS AMENDED BY THE SUPERFUND AMENDMENTS AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT, PUB. L. 99-499 (CERCLA), FOR RESPONSE COSTS INCURRED, AND TO BE INCURRED, TO REMEDY THE RELEASES OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AT THE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY SITES. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT PRIORITY CLAIMS BE FILED ON BEHALF OF THE AGENCY AS ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. THE BAR DATE FOR BOTH BANKRUPTCY ACTIONS IS JULY 6, 1992. GREG LATTIMER IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ATTORNEY ASSIGNED TO OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED TO THE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC. SITE, AND HE IS AWARE OF THESE BANKRUPTCY ACTIONS. THE REGIONAL ATTORNEY HANDLING THIS MATTER IS JAMES E. MORRIS, WHO CAN BE REACHED AT FTS/886-6632.

Defendants (2)

• ORGANIC CHEMICALS, INC.Named in complaint
• SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANYNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• ORGANIC CHEMICALS INCORPORATED

  3291 CHICAGO DR SW, GRANDVILLE, MI, 49418

  Registry ID: 110000614559

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1991-06-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1992-06-01Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1992-07-06Complaint Filed With Court