EPA v. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY

Case summary

UNION PACIFIC TANKER CAR WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING PERCHLOROETHYLENE (PCE) ONTO THE GROUND. WHEN MOVED TO TO A TURNTABLE IN ORDER TO CONTAIN THE CHEMICAL SPILL UNTIL CONTAINERS COULD BE LOCATED, THE SUMP IN THE TURNTABLE WAS CONNECTED TO THE CHEYENNE BOARD OF UTILITIES-CROW CREEK POTW. THE PCE DISCHARGED TO THE POTW IMPAIRED THE EFFICIENCY OF THE POTW'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT UNITS AND CAUSED THE BIOLOGICAL MASS TO SLOUGH OFF THE ROCK MEDIA OF THE TRICKLING FILTERS, RESULTING IN PASS THROUGH AND INTERFERENCE AT THE POTW.

Defendants (1)

• UNION PACIFIC RAILROADNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• WAUCONDA SAND & GRAVEL

  BONNER & GARLAND RD, WAUCONDA, IL, 60084

  Registry ID: 110009327022

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards
• CWA 309G — Clean Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANYentered 1990-09-21

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $60,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1990-03-29Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1990-03-29Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1990-09-21Final Order Issued
• 1990-11-05Enforcement Action Closed