Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_98-cv-06264/USCOURTS-caed-1_98-cv-06264-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:6901 Environmental Cleanup Expenses

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JOINT STATUS REPORT AND REQUEST FOR STATUS CONFERENCE; ORDER

1.

BILL LOCKYER, Attorney General

of the State of California

THEODORA BERGER, State Bar No. 050108

Assistant Attorney General

KEN ALEX, State Bar No. 111236

Supervising Deputy Attorney General

BRETT J. MORRIS, State Bar No. 158408

JANILL L. RICHARDS, State Bar No. 173817

Deputy Attorneys General

1515 Clay Street, 20th Floor

Oakland, California 94612-1413

Telephone (510) 622-2100

Attorneys for Plaintiff Department of Toxic Substances Control

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES

CONTROL,

Plaintiff,

v.

WITCO CORPORATION, et al.,

Defendants.

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NO. CIV F-98-6264 OWW/TAG

JOINT STATUS REPORT OF

DTSC, CROMPTON

CORPORATION, AND THE

DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

AND REQUEST FOR STATUS

CONFERENCE;

ORDER SETTING STATUS

CONFERENCE

This joint status report is submitted on behalf of plaintiff the Department of Toxic

Substances Control ("DTSC") and defendants Crompton Corporation ("Crompton") and the

Dow Chemical Company ("Dow"). 

Status of the Litigation and Parties

This case involves property contaminated by the drum reconditioning operations of San

Joaquin Drum Company ("SJDC") in Bakersfield, California. DTSC is concerned about two

parcels: the main SJDC site, 3930 Gilmore Avenue; and a parcel across the street from the main

site allegedly used by SJDC to store drums, 3213 Gibson Street (the "Cady Property").

DTSC brought this action against six defendants: Crompton (then Witco Corporation),

Dow, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. ("Chevron"), Western Farm Services, Inc. ("Western Farm"), Helt

Case 1:98-cv-06264-OWW -TAG Document 191 Filed 09/26/05 Page 1 of 4
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JOINT STATUS REPORT AND REQUEST FOR STATUS CONFERENCE; ORDER

2.

Petroleum ("Helt") and Clifford Pitts. DTSC dismissed its claims against Helt, a defunct

corporation without assets, on September 3, 1999. DTSC's claims against Chevron and Western

Farm have been resolved by settlement. The Court entered Consent Decrees effectuating these

settlements on March 15, 2004, and August 30, 2005, respectively. On DTSC's request, the

clerk entered Clifford Pitts's default on February 26, 2004. Only DTSC's claims against

Crompton and Dow remain pending. Currently, the matter is stayed to allow time for Chevron

to complete its clean up and investigative work at the main SJDC site and the remaining parties

to continue their settlement discussions. DTSC expects that, pursuant to the approved

settlement agreement, Western Farm will commence its investigation at the Cady Property in the

coming weeks.

Results of the Investigation of the Main Site

Pursuant to the Chevron/DTSC settlement, Chevron conducted certain investigative and

clean up work at the main SJDC site. Chevron removed the majority of the remaining structures

and contaminated soil at the main site and installed groundwater monitoring wells. Chevron's

work has substantially reduced the remaining work that must be done at the main site. The data

from Chevron's investigation show that there is some contamination of ground water at and near

the site. The contaminants of concern in ground water that are above regulatory action levels are

lead and arsenic; because of their chemical properties, these contaminants do not, however, tend

to move quickly downgradient in ground water and any contamination is therefore likely

localized. The pesticide DDE is also present in ground water, but at concentrations below

regulatory action levels. During its work, Chevron discovered an additional on-site well that

may have been used by SJDC for disposal. Chevron is in the process of closing that well.

Investigation of the Cady Property

Pursuant to the settlement between Western Farm and DTSC, Western Farm will begin

its investigative work at the Cady Property shortly. The investigation will take a phased

approach, subsequent phases contingent on the results of the preceding phases. In addition,

Western Farm Service will pay at least $200,000, and up to $300,000, toward DTSC's costs.

Western Farm's work plan is due by the end of September 2005. DTSC estimates that it

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JOINT STATUS REPORT AND REQUEST FOR STATUS CONFERENCE; ORDER

3.

may be able to approve the work plan by the end of October. The investigation 

may start as soon as mid-November 2005. DTSC estimates that it may have preliminary results

of at least the first phase of investigation by January 2006. The information from investigation

of the Cady Property may assist the remaining parties in reaching resolution without resort to

further litigation.

Potential for Resolution of Claims Without Further Litigation

As noted, defendant Clifford Pitts is in default. The parties are considering whether,

under the circumstances of this case, a default judgment would be appropriate. They may file a

motion with this court in the coming weeks seeking entry of a separate default judgment against

Mr. Pitts.

The only two defendants that have appeared and are still part of the case are Crompton

and Dow. Crompton, Dow and DTSC believe that once the data from the Cady Property

investigation is available, it is likely that they will be able to resolve the remaining claims in this

case without resort to further litigation.

Parties' Request for Further Stay of Action and Status Conference

For the foregoing reasons, Crompton, Dow and DTSC respectfully request that the Court

extend the stay of litigation currently in place until March 1, 2006, and set a further status

conference in this case for February 15, 2006, at 8:45 a.m. The parties will file a joint statute

conference statement by February 1, 2006.

Dated: September 19, 2005 BILL LOCKYER

Attorney General

THEODORA BERGER

Assistant Attorney General

KEN ALEX

Supervising Deputy Attorney General

BRETT J. MORRIS

JANILL L. RICHARDS

Deputy Attorneys General

By:

Janill L. Richards

Deputy Attorney General

Attorneys for Plaintiff DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC

SUBSTANCES CONTROL

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JOINT STATUS REPORT AND REQUEST FOR STATUS CONFERENCE; ORDER

4.

Dated: September __, 2005 PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW

PITTMAN, LLP

SARAH G. FLANAGAN

JACOB R. SORENSEN

50 Fremont Street

Post Office Box 7880

San Francisco, CA 94120-7880

By:

Sarah G. Flanagan

Attorneys for Defendant CROMPTON

CORPORATION

Dated: September 19, 2005 PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY

& WALKER LLP

JOHN P. PHILLIPS

55 Second Street, Twenty-Fourth Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105-3441

By: FOR

John P. Phillips

Attorneys for Defendant THE DOW CHEMICAL

COMPANY

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ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that the stay currently in place shall be extended to March 1, 2006. A

further status conference shall be held February 15, 2006, at 8:45 a.m. The parties may appear

telephonically. A supplemental status report shall be filed with the Court by February 1, 2006. 

Dated: _September 23_, 2005

/s/ OLIVER W. WANGER

______________________________

Oliver W. Wanger

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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