EPA v. GULF COAST VACUUM SERVICES, INC. OU NO. 2

Case summary

THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THIS SITE, GULF COAST VACUUM SERVICES, INC., WAS AN OIL FIELD HAULING SERVICE, AND IS IN BANKRUPTCY NOW. THE SITE HAS BEEN ABANDONED OUT OF BANKRUPTCY. PRIOR TO AGREEING TO ABANDONED, EPA MADE A CLAIM FOR ITS COSTS AS AD- MINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. THE BANKRUPTCY COURT APPROVED AN A- GREEMENT GIVING EPA 50% OF THE ESTATE OF GULF COAST VACUUM SERVICES, INC. AFTER THE TRUSTEE'S EXPENSES. THE TOTAL A- MOUNT SO RECOVERED WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $55,000. THE SITE RECEIVED OILFIELD EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION WASTES, INCLUD- ING MUDS , OIL SLUSH, BRINES, ETC., ILLEGALLY DUMPED ONSITE AND WASHOUT FROM THE TANK. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INCLUDE HEA- VY METALS, BENZENE, AND ETHYLBENZENE, LISTED AS SUCH IN 40 C.F.R. SEC. 302.4 UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT, CLEAN AIR ACT, AND RCRA. A REMOVAL ACTION WAS PERFORMED IN EARLY 1990, WHICH ACTION INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONTAINMENT DIKE AROUND THE WEST PIT . THE RI/FS IS BEING PERFORMED BY EPA BECAUSE RI/FS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PRPS WERE ULTIMATELY UN- SUCCESSFUL. ACCESS FOR THE RI/FS WAS OBTAINED THROUGH A CERCLA 104(E)(5) UNILATERAL ORDER ISSUED TO GULF COAST.

Defendants (49)

• COLUMBIA GAS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
• ROSEWOOD RESOURCES, INC.
• SONAT EXPLORATION
• SOUTHPORT EXPLORATION, INC. (VULCAN)
• TARPON OIL CO.
• TESORO PETROLEUM DISTRIBUTING CO.
• TEXACO PIPELINE CO. (TX. PIPELINE, INC.)
• TEXAS CRUDE OIL (TEXAS CRUDE ENERGY, INC
• TOTAL MINATONE CORP.
• EXPLORATION COMPANY OF LOUISIANA
• CONQUEST EXPLORATION CO.
• CORNELL OIL COMPANY
• CUDD PRESSURE CONTROL, INC.
• DOW CHEMICAL CO.
• DOWELL SCHLUMBERGER
• DRESSER INDUSTRIES
• DYNAMIC EXPLORATION, INC.
• ENRON OIL & GAS CO.
• ENSTAR PETROLEUM INC.
• FOREST OIL CORP.
• GRACE DRILLING CO. (GEC MANAGEMENT CORP)
• GRACE PETROLEUM CORP. (GEC MANAGEMENT CO
• GRAHAM RESOURCES, INC.
• GULF COAST VACUUM SERICES, INC. OU NO. 2Named in complaint
• INEXCO OIL CO.
• …and 24 more

Facilities (1)

• GULF COAST VACUUM SERVICES

  P-7-31 OFF LA335, ABBEVILLE, LA, 70510

  Registry ID: 110010726740

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107C3 — Treble Damages
• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1994-01-20Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1994-09-26Final Order Issued
• 1995-06-06Enforcement Action Data Entered