EPA v. Equistar Chemicals (Tuscola) CAFO

Case summary

This enforcement action was filed in response to violations of CERCLA 103A resulting from an ethyl ether release at Equistar's Tuscola, IL facility. On 2/28/2011, a process line pressure relief valve at the Tuscola facility began venting ethyl ether to the atmosphere. The total amount of ethyl ether released was 555 lbs or approximately 5.5 times this chemical's reportable quantity (RQ) of 100 lbs. Equistar didn't notify the NRC of this release until 3/1/2011 - approximately 23 hours and 41 minutes after the release began. The NRC should be notified of releases no later than 15 minutes following their discovery.

Defendants (1)

• Equistar Chemicals (Houston, TX)Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  625 EAST ROUTE 36, TUSCOLA, IL, 61953

  Registry ID: 110000746211

• EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP

  625 EAST ROUTE 36, TUSCOLA, IL, 61953

  Registry ID: 110000746211

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 103A — Notification of Hazardous Reportable Quantity Release

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Equistar Chemicals (Tuscola) CAFOentered 2012-06-28

  Primary law: CERCLA

  Federal penalty: $17,264

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2012-06-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2012-06-28Final Order Issued
• 2012-06-29Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2012-07-03Pipeline Closed
• 2012-07-03Enforcement Action Closed