EPA v. SHELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

Case summary

A CASTASTROPHIC EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED AT THE FACILITY AT ABOUT 6:30 AM, ON MAY 27, 1994. THE EXPLOSION ORIGINATED IN THE K-1 PROCESSING PLANT AND KILLED 3 WORKERS. THE FIRES WERE REPORTED AS HIGH AS 300 FEET AND DARK SMOKE AS HIGH AS 20,000 FEET. SHRAPENEL FROM THE PROCESSING PLANT FIRE AND EXPLOSION RUPTURED 4, ONE MILLION GALLON CAPACITY TANKS CONTAINING STYRENE MONOMER, AND A TANK CONTAINING CYCLOHEXANE. OTHER SHRAPNEL BREACHED CONTAINEMENT DIKES SURROUNDING THE STYRENE TANK FIELD. MUCH OF THE RELEASED CHEMICALS FLOWED TO A CONTAINMENT POND BUT PRODUCT ALSO ESCAPED INTO DAVIS CREEK. (OTHER CHEMICALS POTENTIALLY RELEASED AT THE SITE INCLUDE: ASBESTOS AND RADIATION SOURCES HELD IN TANK GAUGES. THE GAUGES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED.). THE RELEASE OF CHEMICALS HAS CAUSED A CONCERN ABOUT DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES DOWNSTREAM ON THE OHIO RIVER IN W. VIRGINIA, OHIO, AND KENTUCKY. EPA REPRESENTATIVES FROM REGIONS 3,4, AND 5 HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSE TO THIS RELEASE. SAMPLING HAS INDICATED THE RELEASE OF STYRENE, AND 1.2-DIBROMOETHANE (EDB) IN DOWNSTREAM WATERS OF THE OHIO RIVER. EDB LEVELS WERE AT TIMES REPORTED WELL IN EXCESS OF MCLS. ALSO, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 FISH WERE REPORTED KILLED BY THE RELEASES. THOUGH SHELL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RESPONDING TO RELEASES APPROPRIATELY TO DATE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A UAO SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ASSURE THAT APPROPRIATE RESPONSE ACTIONS ARE COMPLETED AT THE SITE.

Defendants (1)

• SHELL CHEMICAL COMPANYNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• KRATON POLYMERS US LLC

  2982 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, BELPRE, OH, 45714

  Registry ID: 110030900997

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106 — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1994-06-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-06-10Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1994-06-10Final Order Issued