EPA v. SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

Case summary

ONGOING STUDIES AT THE ATLAS MINE AND JOHNS-MANVILLE COALINGA ASBESTOS SUPERFUND SITES ( THE MINE AND MILL SITES ) FIRST REVEALED THE POTENTIAL ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION PROBLEM IN THE COALINGA, CALIFORNIA IN 1987. SUBSEQUENT EPA INVESTIGATIONS IN THE CITY OF COALINGA SHOWED THAT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE CITY THAT HAD BEEN USED AS DISTRIBUTION POINTS AND STORAGE FACILITIES FOR THE MILLED ASBESTOS PRODUCTS FROM THE MINE AND MILL SITES WERE HEAVILY CONTAMINATED WITH ASBESTOS. THIS HEAVILY CONTAMINATED AREA OF THE CITY WAS THEN DESIGNATED AS AN OPERABLE UNIT OF BOTH THE MINE AND MILL SITES. SPTC OWNS THE MAJORITY OF THE CONTAMINATED LAND IN THE OPERABLE UNIT ( THE SITE ). THE CITY OF COALINGA ALSO OWNS A SMALL PARCEL OF CONTAMINATED LAND AT THE SITE.

Defendants (14)

• MANVILLE SALES CORPORATION
• MARMAC RESOURCES COMPANY
• SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• TENNECO WEST, INC.
• UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
• VINNELL MINING AND MINERALS CORPORATION
• WESTSIDE TRUCKING SERVICE
• WHEELER PROPERTIES, INC.
• ATLAS CORPORATION-MINERALS DIVISION
• COALINGA, CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• GILLIES, ALLISON B.
• HAMPTON, ROBERT
• HOWARD, RON
• INTERSTATE TOWING SERVICE

Facilities (2)

• COALINGA ASBESTOS MINE

  PINE CYN 15 MI NW OF, COALINGA, CA, 93210

  Registry ID: 110009267881

• ATLAS ASBESTOS MINE

  LOS GATOS CREEK RD NW OF FRESNO, COALINGA, CA, 93210

  Registry ID: 110009333104

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery
• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORT. COentered 1989-10-11

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1987-11-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1989-07-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1989-08-10Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1989-08-10Complaint Filed With Court
• 1989-10-11Final Order Lodged
• 1989-10-11Final Order Entered
• 1989-10-11Concluded