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U.S. Reaches Settlement of Cleanup Costs at Ainsworth Paint and Chemical Superfund Site in Baltimore
Release Date: 5/30/2001
Contact Information: Ruth Wuenschel, (215) 814-5540
Contact: Ruth Wuenschel, (215) 814-5540
Under the settlement agreement, filed this week in federal district court in Baltimore, four companies – Jotun A/S and Jotun Marine Coatings, Inc., Ameron International Corporation and The Valspar Corporation – will reimburse the government nearly $800,000 for EPA’s cleanup of the site at 3200 E. Biddle Street, which was formerly a paint manufacturing facility.
The Ainsworth Paint & Chemical Company operated the plant from 1983 through 1991. According to the government, Ainsworth manufactured paints and coatings for several customers, including Ameron, Valspar, and Jotun. These defendants may be liable under the Superfund law for the disposal of hazardous substances -- in connection with alleged agreements to manufacture, repackage and/or store paint and paint-related products at the site.
Under the proposed settlement, which is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval, Ameron and Valspar have agreed to pay a total of $600,000 and Jotun will pay $199,500 to reimburse the government for EPA’s cleanup.
EPA spent more than $1.5 million removing paints, solvents and other industrial chemicals abandoned in tanks, vats, drums and an outside area, after manufacturing operations ceased in the early 1990's. EPA completed its cleanup in January 1996, and monitoring results show no need for further cleanup at the site.
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