EPA v. ETHYL CORPORATION

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: ETHYL IS A LARGE MANUFACTURER OF PETROCHEMICAL & RE- LATED PRODUCTS WHICH OPERATES A POLYVINYL CHLORIDE PLANT IN BATON ROUGE. CAUSE OF ACTION: ETHYL HAS REPEATEDLY VIOL'D THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARD FOR VINYL CHLORIDE, SPECIFICALLY THE PROHIBITION AGAINST PREVENTABLE RELIEF VALVE DISCHARGES, 40 CFR SEC 61.65(A). THIS CASE INVOLVES A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF VIOL'S & QUANTITY OF EMISSION THAN ANY OTHER VINYL CHLOR- IDE CASE. PROPOSED REMEDY: THE CIVIL ACTION SHOULD SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF RE- QUIRING ETHYL TO INSTITUTE OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PRO- CEDURES, OPERATOR TRAINING & INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO PREVENT FUTURE RELIEF VALVE DISCHARGES. ETHYL SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PAY A SUBSTANTIAL CIVIL PLTY. NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: SINCE THE CASE INVOLVES NATIONALLY APPLICABLE STAND- ARDS, ITS RESOLUTION WILL HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT FOR ALL VINYL CHLORIDE CASES.

Defendants (1)

• ETHYL CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• ETHYL CORP

  451 FLORIDA ST, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70801

  Registry ID: 110009454848

• ETHYL CORP

  451 FLORIDA ST, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70801

  Registry ID: 110009454848

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ETHYL CORPORATIONentered 1991-03-25

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $320,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1982-03-31Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1982-03-31Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-04-20Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-01-31Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-02-09Complaint Filed With Court
• 1991-03-25Final Order Lodged
• 1991-03-25Final Order Entered
• 1991-03-25Concluded
• 1991-05-09Enforcement Action Closed