Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_98-cv-06264/USCOURTS-caed-1_98-cv-06264-3/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; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

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;

ORDER SETTING FURTHER

STATUS CONFERENCE

Date: February 15, 2006

Time: 8:45 a.m.

Court: Courtroom 3

Hon. Oliver W. Wanger

Telephonic Appearances Requested

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

Substances Control ("DTSC") and defendants Chemtura Corporation (previously Crompton

Corporation) ("Chemtura") 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: Chemtura (then Witco Corporation),

Case 1:98-cv-06264-OWW -TAG Document 193 Filed 02/06/06 Page 1 of 4
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JOINT STATUS REPORT; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

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

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

Chemtura and Dow remain pending. Chevron has completed its clean up and investigative work

at the main SJDC site. Western Farm has submitted a final work plan for commencement of its

investigation at the Cady Property. Western Farm's consultant is expected to commence work in

the coming weeks. The remaining parties to this action continue their settlement discussions. 

This action is currently stayed until March 1, 2006.

Results of the Investigation of the Main Site

As set forth in the parties' September 19, 2006, status report, Chevron conducted certain

investigative and clean up work at the main SJDC site as required by the Chevron/DTSC

settlement. 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,

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JOINT STATUS REPORT; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

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

On January 16, 2006, Western Farm submitted to DTSC a Final Phase 1 Investigation

Work Plan, incorporating changes and comments provided by DTSC on the draft work plan. 

DTSC is now reviewing the final work plan and expects to approve it in the coming days. Field

work at the Cady Property should begin shortly after work plan approval. The parties should

have preliminary data by March 1, 2006, and a draft report on the Phase 1 investigation by early

April 2006.

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

and Dow. Chemtura, 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, Chemtura, Dow and DTSC respectfully request that the Court

extend the stay of litigation currently in place until July 3, 2006, and set a further status

conference in this case for June 14, 2006, at 8:45 a.m. The parties will file a joint status

conference statement by June 1, 2006.

Dated: January __, 2006 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; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

4.

Dated: January __, 2006 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 CHEMTURA

CORPORATION

Dated: January __, 2006 PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY

& WALKER LLP

JOHN P. PHILLIPS

55 Second Street, Twenty-Fourth Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105-3441

By: 

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 July 3, 2006. A

further status conference shall be held June 14, 2006, at 8:45 a.m. The parties may appear

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

The scheduling conference set for February 15, 2006 is vacated.

Dated: _Feb. 3__, 2006

/s/ OLIVER W. WANGER

______________________________

Oliver W. Wanger

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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