EPA v. REILLY TAR & CHEMICAL (DOVER)

Case summary

THE SITE IS LOCATED ON 3.66 ACRES OF LAND SITUATED ON THIRD STREET IN AND AT THE SOUTHWEST EDGE OF DOVER, (TUSCARAWAS COUNTY) OHIO, SOUTHEAST OF THE JUNCTION OF STATE ROUTE 211 AND STATE ROUTE 39 AND THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE FROM THE JUNCTION OF SUGAR CREEK AND THE TUSCARAWAS RIVER. ON THE NORTHEAST, THE SITE IS BORDERED BY THE TURNING BASIN OF THE ABANDONED OHIO CANAL WHICH NOW FUNCTIONS AS A DRAINAGE DITCH FOR STORMWATER FROM THE CITY. CURRENT LAND USE IN THE SITE'S VICINITY IS MAINLY COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL NORTH OF THE SITE (TOWARDS DOWNTOWN DOVER) AND INDUSTRIAL TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST. PUBLIC POWER AND SEWERAGE FACILITIES ARE DIRECTLY EAST OF THE SITE. THE SITE IS CURRENTLY USED FOR FILL AND BORROW DISPOSAL. MOLTEN BLAST FURNACE SLAG WAS DISPOSED ON THE SOUTH AREA OF THE SITE. THE AREA HAS ABANDONED RAILROAD TRACKS. THE SITE BEGAN ITS INDUSTRIAL HISTORY IN THE MID-1800S. IT HAS BEEN USED AS A PIG IRON BLAST FURNACE SITE, A COKING PLANT AND FOUNDRY, AND A COAL TAR REFINERY. A BLAST FURNACE OPERATION WAS AT THE SITE FROM ABOUT 185-1927 (LAST OPERATOR KNOWN AS HANNA FURNACE COMPANY OF CLEVELAND). DOVER COKE BY-PRODUCTS CO., ESTABLISHED A PLANT NEXT TO THE HANNA BLAST FURNACE AROUND 1916. THIS OPERATION ALSO WOULD HAVE PRODUCED COAL TAR AS A BY PRODUCT. AT THE TIME THE COKE OVENS WERE BUILT F.J. LEWIS MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHED A CHEMICAL PLANT FOR THE USE OF THE COAL TAR BY-PRODUCT. COAL TAR REFINING OCCURRED AT THE SITE FROM APPROXIMATELY 1917 THROUGH 1956. REILLY TAR, INC. OPERATED THE COAL TAR PROCESS FROM 1932 TO 1956 AFTER IT PURCHASED THE CHEMICAL PLANT FROM LEWIS MANUFACTURING. THE SITE HAS BEEN VACANT AND INACTIVE SINCE 1956 WHEN REILLY TAR CORPORATION SOLD THE PROPERTY. THE SITE HAS SINCE PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL PERSONS AND PRESENTLY IS OWNED BY RONALD AND LOIS QUILLIN. THE SITE WAS PLACED ON THE NPL ON MARCH 24, 1988 WITH A 31.88 SCORE. THE SITE WAS FENCED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, QUINLLIN AND REILLY AFTER EPA ISSUED A CONSENT ORDER IN OCTOBER 1988 (V-W-88-C-131). AN EXPEDITED RESPONSE ACTION FOR REMOVAL OF SURFICIAL COAL TAR WAS PERFORMED IN JUNE AND JULY 1990 BY REILLY TAR WITH EPA OVERSIGHT. A UAO WAS ISSUED FOR RI/FS WORK ON MARCH 29, 989 (EFFECTIVE DATE OF MAY 7, 1989) AND LATER MODIFIED AS A CONSENT ORDER IN APRIL 1990. 2

Defendants (2)

• REILLY TAR & CHEMICAL CORPORATIONNamed in complaint
• RONALD AND LOIS QUILLINNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• REILLY TAR & CHEMICAL CORP. (DOVER PLANT)

  THIRD ST, DOVER, OH, 44622

  Registry ID: 110009304751

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106 — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1989-03-29Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1989-03-29Final Order Issued
• 1990-04-19Enforcement Action Closed
• 1993-07-16Enforcement Action Data Entered