EPA v. Sysco Food Services/Cincinnati - CERCLA-05-2002-0015

Case summary

'On June 26, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. Sysco Food Services/Cincinnati, Evendale, Ohio had a 2,000 pound release of anhydrous ammonia, Anhydrous ammonia is a hazardous substance under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act with a reportable quantity of 100 pounds. This release is 20 times the RQ. The person in charge of the facility never called the National Response Center. Sysco Food Services/Cincinnati has completed environmentally beneficial projects aimed at protecting human health and the environment. They have spent $550,000 on these projects. They automated their alarm system that will automatically shut down their refrigeration system when an ammonia leak is detected and it will notify someone via a pager that an ammonia leak has occurred. They have instituted an aggressive component replacement and maintenance schedule. They have encased and protected any exposed system components. Lastly, they have installed a second cooling tower. These projects do not qualify as supplemental environmental projects because these projects were completed before the Agency commenced an enforcement action.'

Defendants (1)

• Sysco Food Services/CincinnatiNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SYSCO FOOD SERVICES CINCINNATI

  10510 EVENDALE DR, CINCINNATI, OH, 45241

  Registry ID: 110009624200

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 103A — Notification of Hazardous Reportable Quantity Release

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Sysco Food Services/Cincinnatientered 2002-09-23

  Primary law: CERCLA

  Federal penalty: $11,407

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2002-09-23Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2002-09-23Final Order Issued
• 2002-09-25Enforcement Action Data Entered