EPA v. NREL(MIDWEST RESEARCH INST.)

Case summary

RAMP INDUSTRIES IS A PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSI- NESS WHICH ACCEPTS RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MIXED WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FOR TREATMENT AND TEMPORARY STOR- AGE. ON 8/31/94, RAMP'S ONLY LOCAL EMPLOYEE RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AS GENERAL MANAGER AND LEFT THE FACILITY. AT THAT POINT, THE FACILITY WAS ABANDONDED AND UNSECURED AND CON- TAINED BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 DRUMS OF RADIOACTIVE AND MIXED WASTES. THE DRUMS ARE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND ARE RUST- ING. SAMPLES TAKEN FROM SOIL AND SEWERS ON THE SITE REVEAL A PRESENCE OF RADIONUCLIDES AND ORGANIC SOLVENTS. PASSERSBY WERE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO ELEVATED LEVELS OF GAMMA RADIA- TION. THE SITE IS LOCATED IN AN INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREA. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 96,5000 PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN A 4 MILE RADIUS OF THE SITE. SHOULD A FIRE BREAKOUT AMONG THE 6000 PLUS DRUMS OF THESE WASTES, AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS WOULD BE SPREAD OVER A LARGE AREA OF METRO DENVER.

Defendants (1)

• NRELNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• RAMP INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED

  1127 WEST 46TH AVE, DENVER, CO, 80211

  Registry ID: 110000621499

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• NREL (MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEentered 1995-09-21

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 1995-08-08Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1995-09-21Final Order Issued
• 1996-02-23Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2002-01-08Compliance Achieved
• 2002-02-04Enforcement Action Closed