EPA v. Columbus Manufacturing Inc. Civil Judicial Action

Case summary

This is a civil judicial referral against Columbus Mfg. Inc. for violations of CAA §112(r), CERCLA §103, and EPCRA §§ 304 & 312 for violations at its facilities in South San Francisco and Hayward, CA. The referral seeks injunctive relief and civil penalties. UPDATE - On 3/14/12 the US District Court for the Northern District of California entered the Consent Decree settling this matter. The Consent Decree requires Columbus Manufacturing Inc. to, among other things, 1) convert its ammonia refrigeration system to an inherently safer ammonia-glycol hybrid system and 2) pay a civil penalty of $685.466.

Defendants (1)

• Columbus Manufacturing Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• COLUMBUS MANUFACTURING, INC.

  3190 CORPORATE PLACE, HAYWARD, CA, 94545-3916

  Registry ID: 110000522729

• COLUMBUS FOODS, LLC

  493 FORBES BLVD, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94080

  Registry ID: 110038389534

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 103A — Notification of Hazardous Reportable Quantity Release
• EPCRA 312 — Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms
• EPCRA 304 — Emergency Release Notification Section 313 Program
• CAA 112[R][7] — Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs)
• CAA 112[R][1] — Prevention of Accidental Release/General Duty Clause

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Columbus Manufacturing Inc. Civil Judicial Actionentered 2012-03-14

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $685,466

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2011-03-07Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2011-04-15Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2012-01-30Complaint Filed With Court
• 2012-01-30Final Order Lodged
• 2012-03-14Final Order Entered
• 2012-05-07Enforcement Action Closed
• 2012-05-07Concluded