EPA v. EXXON HOUSTON CHEMICAL PLANT

Case summary

1. SECTION 7003 OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT ( RCRA ). 2. EXXON HOUSTON CHEMICAL PLANT 8230 STEDMAN STREET HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS 77029 3. EPA COLLECTED GROUNDWATER SAMPLES AT THE PLANT ON JUL. 28 AND 29, 197. THE FOLLOWING ELEVATED LEVELS OF HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE GROUND WATER AT THE PLANT: BENZENE, ETHYL BENZENE, TOLUENE, XYLENE, ARSENIC, CHROMIUM, COPPER, LEAD, MERCURY, AND NICKEL. THE LEVELS FOR THESE CONSTITUENTS WERE GREATER THAN EPA MAXIMUM CON- TAMINANT LEVEL AND THE TNRCC GROUND WATER PROTECTION STANDARD. EVIDENCE OF THE ELEVATED LEVELS OF HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS IS REPORTED TO BE PRESENT IN THE MORE RECENT GROUND WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED BY EXXON. THE ELEVATED LEVELS INDICATE A RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT RESULTING FROM HISTORIC OPERATION OF THE PLANT. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTION 7003 OF RCRA, EPA SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THE PLANT EXPEDITIOUSLY DELINEATE THE HOR- IZONTAL AND VERTICAL EXTENT OF HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS, LOCATE ANY SOURCE AREAS, AND PERFORM REMEDIAL ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. EXXON HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO CONDUCT CORRECTIVE ACTION AC- TIVITIES TO ADDRESS THE GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION AT ITS PLANT. EPA REQUESTS THAT WITHIN 60 DAYS RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER, EXXON SUBMIT A SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS-INVESTIGA- TION WORK PLAN TO EPA FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT. EPA ALSO REQUESTS THAT EXXON RESPOND TO EPA WITH A LETTER CLEARLY STATING EXXON'S INTENT TO CONDUCT CORRECTIVE ACTION ACT- IVITIES TO REMEDIATE CONTAMINATION AT THE PLANT AS STATED IN AN EPA APPROVED WORK PLAN.

Defendants (1)

• EXXON CHEMICAL AMERICASNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• EXXON CHEMICAL AMERICAS BAYTOWN CHEMICA

  8230 STEDMAN ST, HOUSTON, TX, 77029

  Registry ID: 110000750143

• EXXON CHEMICAL AMERICAS BAYTOWN CHEMICA

  8230 STEDMAN ST, HOUSTON, TX, 77029

  Registry ID: 110000750143

Statutes cited

• RCRA 7003 — Imminent Order: Solid or Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EXXON HOUSTON CHEMICAL PLANTentered 1999-09-27

  Primary law: RCRA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1999-09-27Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1999-09-27Final Order Issued
• 1999-10-26Enforcement Action Data Entered