EPA v. WITCO CORPORATION

Case summary

ON MARCH 29, 1991, REGION IX REFERRED A CIVIL LITIGATION REPORT CONCERNING A PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST WITCO CORPORATION ( WITCO ) FOR VIOLATION OF RESOURCE CONVERSATION AND RECOVERY ACT ( RCRA ). THIS REFERRAL SEEKS A PENALTY OF $1,551,000.00 AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST WITCO FOR ITS ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF RCRA BY ILLEGALLY DISPOSING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE, INJECTING HAZARDOUS WASTE INTO AN UNDERGROUND SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER, AND LAND DISPOSING OF RESTRICTED HAZARDOUS WASTE. THIS REFERRAL ALSO PROPOSES THAT WITCO BE ORDERED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS GROUNDWATER AND SOIL CONTAMINATION AT WITCO'S FACILITY IN OILDALE, CALIFORNIA. WITCO OWNS AND OPERATES AN OIL REFINERY LOCATED IN OILDALE CALIFORNIA. WITCO RESEARCHES, DEVELOPS AND PRODUCES LUBRICATION OIL, PROCESS OIL, ASPHALT PRODUCTS AND LIGHT GAS KEROSENE. WITCO HAS DISPOSED OF HAZARDOUS WASTES INTO AT LEAST SEVEN SHALLOW WELLS AND TWO DEEP INJECTION WELLS. WITCO'S DISPOSAL INTO ITS SHALLOW WELLS CONSTITUTES A RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE THAT THREATENS A DRINKING WATER SOURCE. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1990, THE REGION REFERRED A CIVIL LITIGATION CASE AGAINST WITCO FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT TO THE OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE PRESENT REFERRAL BE COORDINATED WITH THE PREVIOUSLY REFERRED CASE. (09-90-0019)

Defendants (1)

• WITCO CORPORATIONNamed in complaint

Facilities (2)

• WITCO CORPORATION

  1134 MANOR STREET, BAKERSFIELD, CA, 93308

  Registry ID: 110017407153

• WITCO CORPORATION

  1134 MANOR STREET, BAKERSFIELD, CA, 93308

  Registry ID: 110017407153

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3004 — Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Standards
• RCRA 3005A — Res Conserv & Rec Act

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1990-08-25Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1991-03-29Referred To Headquarters
• 1992-01-13Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1992-10-21Complaint Filed With Court
• 1995-06-07Concluded
• 1995-06-07Enforcement Action Closed