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Container Properties L.L.C. Fined for Failure to Comply with EPA Cleanup Order

Release Date: 2/6/2000
Contact Information: Bill Dunbar
dunbar.bill@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-1203

February 7, 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - 00-07


The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Container Properties L.L.C., Inc., of Seattle, Washington has paid a penalty of $159,500 for the failure to conduct required cleanup work at the former Rhone Poulenc facility on Marginal Way in Seattle. This penalty was paid on behalf of the Respondents: Rhone-Poulenc Ag Company, Inc., Rhodia Inc., and Container Properties L.L.C.

A vanillin processing plant until it closed in April 1991, the Marginal Way facility has a long history of above- and below-ground releases of contaminants such as toluene (a toxic solvent), arsenic, cadmium, copper, mineral oil, sulfuric acid and other waste by-products from the vanillin making process. Sampling has detected contamination of groundwater which flows into the lower Duwamish River which is home to threatened chinook salmon and depressed steelhead runs, and is being considered for possible Superfund listing.

The EPA has attempted to get the companies responsible to progress with cleanup but repeated submission of poor quality documents by the respondents has delayed any substantive cleanup work.

EPA officials believe the repeated failure to meet requirements of the 1993 consent order was either a matter of blatant disregard or ignorance of the requirements of the order.

“We’re just baffled,“ said EPA’s Jamie Sikorski. “Contamination of this degree requires serious efforts to clean it up. We hope that the payment of this fine is an indication that these companies understand the seriousness of their cleanup responsibilities to the public living in the South Park area and those who use the river for recreation.”