EPA v. WESTERN PROCESSING CO INC

Case summary

NATURE OF CASE/CAUSE OF ACTION: CIVIL JUDICIAL ACTION AGAINST WESTERN PROCESSSING CO , INC IS WARRANTED FOR ITS VIOL'S OF THE RESOURCE CONSER- VATION & RECOVERY ACT(RCRA). DURING 1980, 1981 & 1982, THE CO CONDUCTED ITS HAZ WASTE RECYCLING, TREATMENT, STO- RAGE & DISPOSAL FACILITY IN A MANNER NOT COMPLING W/APPL- ICABLE REGULATIONS. ALTHOUGH THE CO NOTIFIED EPA OF ITS HAZ WASTE ACTIVIES PURSUANT TO RCRA SEC 3010, AN ADMINIS- TRATIVE ORDER(ISSUED IN 5/81, EXHIBIT 3) & SUBSTANIAL NEG THEREAFTER WAS NECESSARY TO CONVINCE THE CO TO SUBMIT A PART A APPLICATION PURSUANT TO RCRA SEC 3005. SEVERAL SITE INSPECTIONS HAVE DISCLOSED NUMEROUS VIOL'S OF THE INTERIM STATUS STANDARDS FOUND IN 40 CFR PART 265, & EXHAUSTIVE NEG'S & A COMPLIANCE SECTION 3008 ORDER ISSUED 6/4/82, HAVE NOT CAUSED A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE CO. COST RECOVERY ACTION AGAINST 9 PRP'S WHO REFUSED TO SIGN PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REMAINING APPROXIMATELY $6.5 MILLION GOVERNMENT INCURRED CLEANING UP WESTERN PROCESSING FILED 9/4/86. ARRIVED DOJ 10/3/86 AND FILED COURT 11/21/86.

Defendants (178)

• MONSANTO CO
• PRECISION CASTPARTS CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• REYNOLDS METALS CO
• SHELL OIL CO
• SIMPSON TIMBER CO
• TEKTRONIX INC
• UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
• WESTERN PNEUMATIC TUBE CO
• WESTERN PROCESSING CO INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WEYERHAEUSER CO
• BOEING CO
• CAM INDUSTRIES INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CANADIAN FOREST PRODUCTS LTD.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CANRON INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CASCADE CHEMICAL CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• WESTERN GEAR MACHINERY CO
• WESTERN WOOD PRESERVING CO
• ZEHRUNG CORP
• STUART-WESTERN INC
• VALLEY ENAMELING
• VAN VETTER INC
• ACME INTER-CITY FREIGHT LINESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• AIRO SERVICES, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• ALASKAN COOPER WORKSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ALCAN CANADA PRODUCTS LIMITEDNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• …and 153 more

Facilities (1)

• WESTERN PROCESSING CO INC

  7215 S 196TH ST, KENT, WA, 98031

  Registry ID: 110000897432

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund
• RCRA 7003 — Imminent Order: Solid or Hazardous Waste
• CERCLA 106 — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order
• RCRA 3013 — Monitoring, Analysis, Testing
• RCRA 3008 — Res Conserv & Rec Act
• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CERCLA 104A — CERCLA 104(a)

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• WESTERN PROCESSING CO INCentered 1984-08-27

  Primary law: CERCLA

  Federal penalty: $1,800,000

• WESTERN PROCESSING/UNDERGROUNDentered 1987-04-10

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1982-06-25Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1982-08-12Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-02-24Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-02-25Complaint Filed With Court
• 1987-04-10Final Order Lodged
• 1987-04-10Final Order Entered
• 1993-01-06Concluded
• 1993-03-03Enforcement Action Closed