EPA v. ST. JOE LEAD COMPANY

Case summary

THIS IS A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THE ST. JOE LEAD COMPANY (SJL), SINCE 1981 A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE FLUOR CORPORATION OF IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, FOR DISCHARGING POLLU- TANTS INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN EXCESS OF THE LEVELS PERMITTED BY ITS NPDES PERMIT NO. MO-0000281. THE AGENCY IS SEEKING CIVIL PENALTIES. SJL OPERATES THE LARGEST LEAD SMELTER IN THE U.S. AT THIS SITE. ITS PERMIT, ISSUED ON APRIL 2, 1976, REQUIRED COM- LIANCE WITH FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS BY JULY 1, 1977, LATER EXTENDED BY AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE UNTIL JULY 1, 1978. THE PERMIT LIMITATIONS WERE NOT AS STRINGENT AS THE BPT GUIDELINES FOR LEAD SMELTERS ISSUED BY EPA IN 1975. REPEATED INSPECTIONS BY EPA AND THE STATE, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY'S OWN DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORT, INDICATED CONTINUING VIOLATIONS UNTIL AS RECENTLY AS SEPTEMBER 1982, DESPITE REPEATED ASSURANCES BY COMPANY OFFICIALS THAT THE FACILITY WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE SHORTLY.

Defendants (1)

• ST. JOE LEAD COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• DOE RUN COMPANY HERCULANEUM SMELTER

  881 MAIN STREET, HERCULANEUM, MO, 630481222

  Registry ID: 110000440425

• DOE RUN COMPANY HERCULANEUM SMELTER

  881 MAIN STREET, HERCULANEUM, MO, 630481222

  Registry ID: 110000440425

Statutes cited

• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ST. JOE LEAD COMPANYentered 1984-06-13

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $100,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1983-03-07Referred To Headquarters
• 1983-04-28Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-10-03Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-10-13Complaint Filed With Court
• 1984-06-13Enforcement Action Closed
• 1984-06-13Final Order Lodged
• 1984-06-13Final Order Entered
• 1984-06-13Concluded