EPA v. TITANIUM METALS CORP OF AMERICA

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: TITANIUM METALS CORP OF AMERICA, TIMET DIVISION, OP- ERATES A TITANIUM REFINING FACILITY IN HENDERSON, NV WHICH PRODUCES TITANIUM INGOTS. THE TIMET FACILITY CUR- RENTLY OPERATES UNDER AN NPDES PERMIT ISSUED BY THE STATE OS NV PURSUANT TO THE CWA. UNDER THE PERMIT, TIMET IS AUTHORIZED TO DISCHARGE CERTAIN LOW-LEVEL CHEMICAL WASTES INTO AN OPEN RECEIVING WATER DITCH WHICH FLOWS THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA & INTO AN AREA WHICH IS BEING DEVELOPED AS A DESERT WETLANDS PARK. CAUSE OF ACTION: THIS ACTION INVOLVES MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS BY TIMET OF SEC'S 301 & 402 OF THE CWA BETWEEN 1/80 AND 8/82. THESE VIOLATIONS INCLUDE: 73 EXCEEDANCES OF EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS BETWEEN 1980 AND THE PRESENT. 28 DISCHARGES OF UNAUTHORIZED POLLUTANTS IN 1980 AND 1981 AND 2 UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES OF POLLUTANTS IN 1982 CAUSED BY BYPASSES OF FACILITIES NECESSARY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PERMIT. FROM 1977 TO THE PRSENT, EPA AN D TEH STATE OF NV HAVE UNDERTAKEN A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS BRINGING TIMET INTO COMPOLIANCE WITH ITS PERMITS. HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF THESE ACTIONS, EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS VIOLATIONS ARE CONTINUING. IN ADDITION THE POOR MAINTENANCE OF THE PLANT AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENT WORKS STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS UNAUTHOR- IZED DUSCHARGES ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE. TIMET'S DISCHARGES POSE THE RISK OF HUMAN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMETNAL HARM BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE DISCHAR- GES TO RESIDENTIAL AND WETLANDS AREAS.

Defendants (1)

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION OF AMERICANamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (16)

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATION

  LAKE MEAD DR. & ATLANTIC AVE., HENDERSON, NV, 89015

  Registry ID: 110046475881

• …and 1 more

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• TITANIUM METALS CORPORATIONentered 1986-08-25

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $100,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1982-07-15Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1982-09-27Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-11-03Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-08-19Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-08-26Complaint Filed With Court
• 1986-08-25Final Order Lodged
• 1986-08-25Final Order Entered
• 1986-08-25Concluded
• 1986-10-23Enforcement Action Closed