EPA v. WHITEWOOD CUSTOM TREATERS SITE

Case summary

RESPONDENTS GRAVATT, PATINO AND LEONARD WERE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE WHITEWOOD CUSTOM TREATERS, INC., DURING A LARGE SPELL OF TREATMENT SOLUTION INTO WHITEWOOD CREEK IN JANUARY OF 1982. ADJACENT TO THE 'WCT' SITE ARE A TRAILER PARK, A RAILROAD, A LUMBER YARD AND A HIGHWAY. THE SITE SLOPES TOWARD THE EAST, THUS ANY SURFACE RUNOFF WOULD IMPACT THE AREA SURROUNDING THE HOUSE TRAILERS. A SOIL BERM HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED IN A POSITION TO INTERUPT SURFACE RUN- OFF TO THE AKERS' AND ROBERTS' PROPERITES. A DRY WASH, WHICH ONCE CARRIED IRRIGATION WATER, RUNS FROM THE SOUTHEAST BOUNDARY OF THE SITE THROUGH THE AKERS' AND ROBERTS' PROPERTIES. WCT USED THE SITE TO TREAT WOOD WITH A SOLUTION CONSISTING OF COPPER OXIDE, ARSENIC PENTOXIDE, AND CHROMIC ACID. WOOD WAS TREATED WITH THE SOLUTION IN A PRESSURE TANK AND THEN ALLOWED TO DRY ON A DRIP PAD. A SUMP PUMP COLLECT- ED EXCESS SOLUTION FROM THE PRESSURE TANK AND DRIP PAD AND SENT IT TO TWO STORAGE TNAKS. ANY OVERFLOW FROM THESE TANKS WENT TO A DIVERSION VALVE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE CITY SEWER AND LEACH FIELD. IN JANUARY OF 1982, 9,000 GALLONS OF THE SOLUTION PASSED THROUGHT THE VALVE INTO THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM.

Defendants (1)

• WHITEWOOD CUSTOM TREATERS SITENamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• W C T SITE

  NORTH OF WHITEWOOD, WHITEWOOD, SD, 57793

  Registry ID: 110010732369

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106 — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 1986-05-12Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1986-05-12Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1986-05-12Final Order Issued
• 1987-12-31Compliance Achieved
• 1987-12-31Enforcement Action Closed