Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_98-cv-06264/USCOURTS-caed-1_98-cv-06264-4/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, 20 Floor th

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: June 14, 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 195 Filed 06/02/06 Page 1 of 5
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JOINT STATUS REPORT; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

2.

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

Petroleum ("Helt") and Clifford Pitts (operator of San Joaquin Drum Company and owner of

3930 Gilmore Avenue). 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. On Chemtura's request, the clerk subsequently

entered Clifford Pitt's default. Only DTSC's claims against Chemtura and Dow remain pending.

Chevron has completed its clean up and investigative work at the main SJDC site. Since

the parties' last status report, filed January 26, 2006, Western Farm has completed Phase I of its

investigation at the Cady Property and is in the process of finalizing its final Phase I report;

Western Farm will then proceed to Phase II, which involves further soil investigation at those

Phase I locations where screening levels were exceeded.

This action is currently stayed until July 3, 2006.

Results of the Investigation of the Main Site

As reported in previous status reports, Chevron conducted certain investigative and clean

up work at the main SJDC site as required by the Chevron/DTSC settlement. 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.

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JOINT STATUS REPORT; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

3.

Investigation of the Cady Property

Pursuant to the settlement between Western Farm and DTSC, Western Farm is in the

process of conducting phased investigative work at the Cady Property, with 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.

Parties' Request for Further, Final Stay of Action and Status Conference

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. Though the investigation of the Cady Property is well

underway, it will, however, take many more months to complete. Moreover, it is possible that

the investigation may encounter unanticipated delays.

Chemtura, Dow and DTSC acknowledge that this case has been open and on the Court's

docket for a substantial period of time. Chemtura, Dow and DTSC have met and conferred and

believe that the most efficient course of action would be as follows: Chemtura, Dow and DTSC

enter into tolling agreements addressing DTSC's claims; DTSC and Chemtura request entry of a

default judgment against Clifford Pitts; and, thereafter, the Court enters default judgment against

Clifford Pitts for the value of 3930 Gilmore Avenue and dismisses DTSC's complaint in this

action against Chemtura and Dow without prejudice. Chemtura, Dow and DTSC can then work

to resolve this matter without requiring the ongoing attention of this Court.

Provided that the Court agrees with the proposed course of action, to allow Chemtura,

Dow and DTSC time to complete the tasks outlined in the previous paragraph, Chemtura, Dow

and DTSC respectfully request that the Court extend the stay of litigation currently in place until

September 20, 2006, and set a further status conference in this case for September 13, 2006, at

8:45 a.m. The parties will file a joint status conference statement August 30, 2006.

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JOINT STATUS REPORT; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

4.

Dated: June 1, 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: /s/ Janill L. Richards

Janill L. Richards

Deputy Attorney General

Attorneys for Plaintiff DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC

SUBSTANCES CONTROL

Dated: June 1, 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: /s/ Janill L. Richards for Sarah G. Flanagan

Sarah G. Flanagan

Attorneys for Defendant CHEMTURA

CORPORATION

Dated: June 1, 2006 PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY

& WALKER LLP

JOHN P. PHILLIPS

55 Second Street, Twenty-Fourth Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105-3441

By: /s/ Janill L. Richards for John P. Phillips 

 

John P. Phillips

Attorneys for Defendant THE DOW CHEMICAL

COMPANY

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JOINT STATUS REPORT; ORDER SETTING FURTHER STATUS CONFERENCE

5.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that the stay currently in place shall be extended to September 20, 2006. 

A further status conference shall be held September 13, 2006, at 8:45 a.m. The parties may

appear telephonically. A supplemental status report shall be filed with the Court by August 30,

2006. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 1, 2006 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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