EPA v. CHRYSLER CORP./WILLOW DRUM SITE

Case summary

THE WILLOW DRUM SITE IS ABOUT 2.5 ACRES OF A 15 ACRE FARM PROPERTY LOCATED IN WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE SITE WAS USED IN THE LATE 1970'S FOR FLY DUMPING OF SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTES. THE 2.5 ACRE DISPOSAL AREA CONTAINED 1,800 DRUMS AND 20,000 SMALL CONTAINERS OF WASTE AND OTHER TRASH. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INCLUDE ETHYLBENZENE, XYLENE, ARSENIC AND LEAD. THE U.S. EPA SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1.4 MILLION ON A REMOVAL ACTION TO STAGE THE WASTES. CHRYSLER CORP., ONE OF THE POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES (PRPS), HAS BEEN WORKING AT THE SITE UNDER A UNILATERAL ORDER (UAO) SINCE 1992, COMPLETED A REMOVAL ACTION AT THE SITE IN 1993, AND PREPARED AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION/COST DECLINED PARTICIPATION IN THE UAO AND PAST COSTS WERE NOT ADDRESSED AT THAT TIME.

Defendants (4)

• ARCHER DANIELS MIDLANDNamed in settlement
• BASFNamed in settlement
• CHRYSLER CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GENERAL MOTORSNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• WILLOW DRUMS SITE

  42855 WILLOW RD, NEW BOSTON, MI, 48164

  Registry ID: 110003666444

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CHRYSLER CORP./WILLOW DRUentered 1998-02-27

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1991-12-15Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1996-03-24Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1997-12-16Complaint Filed With Court
• 1998-02-27Final Order Lodged
• 1998-02-27Final Order Entered
• 1999-02-27Concluded