Opinion ID: 1897110
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: pollution and epa

Text: Dutton's manufacturing business used various solvents to clean machines and parts. From approximately 1948 to 1971, the cleaning solvents contained trichloroethylene (TCE), and from approximately 1971 to 1985, the solvents contained 1,1,1, trichloroethane (TCA). Between February 1962 and October 1964, Dutton placed the solvents and sludge-filled degreaser fluid in sealed metal drums that were deposited in a city-operated landfill referred to as the North Landfill. From October 1964 to July 1982, Dutton placed sludge from the degreaser and, prior to September 7, 1977, sludge-filled solvent fluid in sealed metal containers and deposited them in the city-operated South Landfill. After the drums and containers were deposited in the landfills, they were either emptied by Dutton employees or bulldozed by the landfill operator and crushed, causing the sludge and solvent to be released and allowing TCE and TCA to seep into the soil and ground water at both sites. Dutton's deposits in the North and South Landfills were in compliance with then-existing laws and ordinances for the disposition of these solvents, and Dutton did not anticipate that the solvents would cause pollution of the soil or ground water. In the early 1980's, testing at a number of municipal wells in Hastings revealed the presence of TCE. The EPA began an investigation and, on September 23, 1985, notified Dutton that it was a potentially responsible party (PRP) for the cost of cleaning up the contamination at the North and South Landfills and the contamination that emanated from those sites. In addition, between 1948 and 1987, Dutton's regular manufacturing operations caused solvents containing TCE and TCA to spill onto the concrete floor of its operating premises and seep into the ground water beneath. The contaminants spread via the ground water to adjacent property. The pollution emanating from such seepage was designated as Well No. 3. Until Dutton received a letter from the EPA dated November 5, 1992, Dutton was unaware that the solvent was migrating through the concrete floor and invading the soil and ground water. The letter informed Dutton that it was a PRP for the cost of cleaning up the contamination at the Well No. 3 subsite and the contamination that had emanated from that subsite. On December 28, 2001, the EPA notified Dutton that it was a PRP for Operable Unit 19, which was an area-wide ground water contamination subsite allegedly contaminated by leaching from the other subsites that had not been addressed by other response actions. The polluted areas were eventually designated as a single EPA Superfund site, made up of seven distinct subsites. The PRP notices generally gave Dutton a specified period of time to voluntarily undertake cleanup of the various subsites. The notices stated that if no cleanup action was taken, the EPA would design and implement its own plan and would collect reimbursement from Dutton if it were ultimately determined to be a PRP. Beginning August 14, 1998, consent decrees were entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska between Dutton and the EPA regarding cleanup of the various subsites. Pursuant to these decrees, Dutton has conducted extensive cleanup and continues to address the contamination. The cleanup is expected to continue until 2017.