EPA v. THOMPSON CHEMICAL CO. (SUPERIOR SOLVENT & CHEMICAL CO.) ST.

Case summary

THE THOMPSON CHEMICALS SITE IS LOCATED IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN ST. LOUIS, MO. A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES HAVE OPERATED AT THE SITE SINCE THE LATE 1800'S. THESE OPERATIONS HAVE INCLUDED A COAL TAR PROCESSING FACILITY, A STORAGE AND MANUFACTURING FACILITY FOR WOOD TREATING PRODUCTS, THE PRODUCTION OF 2,4,5,T AND 2,4-D ACID PESTICIDES AND THE MANUFACTURE OF AGENT ORANGE. THE SITE IS CURRENTLY IN USE AS A BULK TERMINAL FACILITY FOR SOLVENT PRODUCTS. IN THE MID-1980'S, THE SITE CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF REGION VII WHEN SEEPAGE WAS OBSERVED AT THE GROUND SURFACE FROM A BURIED TANK OF CREOSOTE MATERIAL, WHICH HAD BEEN LEAKING. DURING THE LATER 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S, SIGNIFICANT SAMPLING OF THE SITE WAS UNDERTAKEN BY EPA AND ITS CONTRACTORS. THE SAMPLING DOCUMENTED THE PRESENCE OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS, VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND DIOXIN IN THE SOILS AT THE SITE, ABOVE LEVELS OF CONCERN TO REGION VII. IN 1987, SUPERIOR OIL COMPANY, INC., THE CURRENT OWNER OF A PORTION OF THE SITE AND THE CURRENT OPERATOR OF THE SITE, CONDUCTED A REMOVAL PURSUANT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ISSUED BY EPA REGION VII TO REMOVE THE BURIED TANK REFERRED TO ABOVE. IN 1991-2, SUPERIOR AND THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD CO., ALSO AN OWNER OF A PORTION OF THE SITE, CONDUCTED ANOTHER REMOVAL, PURSUANT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT ISSUED BY REGION VII, TO ADDRESS DIOXIN CONTAMINATION PRESENT IN THE MILL CREEK SEWER TRUNK, WHICH RUNS UNDERNEATH THE SITE. EPA IS NOW PURSUING RECOVERY OF THE OVERSIGHT COSTS RELATED TO THE MILL CREEK SEWER REMOVAL, AND ALL PAST COSTS OF REGION VII RELATING TO THE SITE. REGION VII HAS CALCULATED THE OVERSIGHT AND PAST COSTS RELATED TO THE MILL CREEK SEWER REMOVAL AT APPROXIMATELY $175,000. THE TOTAL COSTS DOCUMENTED, TO DATE, RELATING TO THE SITE ARE APPROXIMATELY $699,000. EPA IS PURSUING THE FOLLOWING PARTIES FOR RECOVERY OF OVERSIGHT COSTS AND PAST COSTS RELATED TO THE MILL CREEK SEWER REMOVAL - SUPERIOR AND MISSOURI PACIFIC. EPA IS PURSUING FOUR PARTIES FOR PAST COSTS RELATED TO THE SITE - SUPERIOR, MISSOURI PACIFIC, ALLIED-SIGNAL, INC., AND MONSANTO COMPANY. ADDITIONALLY, EPA WILL BE NEGOTIATING WITH ALL FOUR PARTIES NAMED ABOVE CONCERNING THE UNDERTAKING OF RI/FS ACTIVITIES AT THE SITE.

Defendants (4)

• ALLIED-SIGNAL, INC.
• MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY
• MONSANTO COMPANY
• SUPERIOR SOLVENT AND CHEMICAL CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• THOMPSON CHEMICALS & SOLVENTS

  1710 PENN ST, SAINT JOSEPH, MO, 64507

  Registry ID: 110003943564

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• THOMPSON CHEMICAL CO. (SUPERIOR SOLVENT & CHEMICAL

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1994-10-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-12-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1995-05-31Complaint Filed With Court