EPA v. WILLIAMS & SON TRANSFORMER SALVAGE CO.

Case summary

CIVIL JUDICIAL ACTION AGAINST WILLIAMS & SON TRANSFORMER SALVAGE CO. IS WARRANTED UNDER CERCLA, SEC 107 TO SEEK RECOVERY COSTS INCURRED FOR THE REMOVAL OF PCB'S AND PCB- CONTAMINATED MATERIAL FROM A SITE IN RURAL THURSTON COUNTY, STATE OF WA. IN 1/84 EPA WAS NOTIFIED THAT USED OIL WAS BEING DUMPED FROM TRANSFORMERS ONTO THE GROUND AT A SALVAGE FACILITY ON FLUMERFELT RD, N OF CENTRALIA, WA. RUNOFF WATER FROM THE SITE LEADING INTO A NEARBY STREAM CONTAINED VISIBLE OIL CONTENT. SAMPLING 1/13/84 RESULTED IN 16,000 PPM. WHEN PROPRIETOR, DAVID WILLIAMS D/B/A WILLIAMS & SON TRANSFORMER SALVAGE, INDICATED AN INABILITY TO CLEAN UP THE SITE, EPA DID SO UNDER CERCLA, SEC 104. REMOVAL OPERATION OCCURRED BETWEEN 2/21/84 & 3/2/84. FROM THE SEC 104 INQUIRY LETTERS SENT TO AREA UTILITY COMPANIES, PCB MATERIAL WAS TRACED TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. EPA INCURRED $163,428.51 IN OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR REMOVAL ACTION, AND $6,942.51 FOR STAFF AND LEGAL TIME. IN VIEW OF THE ADMITTED SALE BY CITY LIGHT & SUBSTANTIAL COSTS INCURRED FOR CLEANUP, RECOVERY ACTION IS APPROPRIATE. TIMELY ACITON IS ESSENTIAL, SINCE A MECHANIC'S LIEN ON WILLIAMS' PROPERTY HAS BEEN FILED TO SECURE POTENTIAL RECOVERY AGAINST HIM & HIS COMPANY. ACTION MUST BE COMMENC- ED BY 2/1/85.

Defendants (4)

• SEATTLE, CY OF - SEATTLE CITY LIGHT DEPTNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS & SON TRANSFORMER SALVGNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS, CLARENCE & ALICE(MARITAL CMTY)Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS, DAVID & JANE DOE(MARITAL CMTY)Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• WILLIAMS & SON TRANSFORMER SAL

  FLUMERFELT RD 1 MI W OF 507, BUCODA, WA, 98530

  Registry ID: 110010690779

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 107 — Superfund

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• WILLIAMS & SON TRANSFORMER SALVAGE CO.entered 1985-08-12

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1984-02-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-12-11Referred To Headquarters
• 1985-01-14Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-01-29Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1985-01-30Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-08-12Final Order Entered
• 1985-08-12Concluded
• 1985-08-12Enforcement Action Closed
• 1985-08-12Final Order Lodged