CERCLA -IN RESPONSE TO AN EXPLOSION & FIRE AT POWELL DUFFRYN TERMINALS, INC. FACILITY, THE U.S. COAST GUARD INITIATED A CERCLA REMOVAL ACTION IN APRIL 1995. WHILE THE COAST GUARD TOOK THE LEAD ROLE AT THE SITE, EPA, NOAA, AND ATSDR ASSISTED. THE TOTAL COSTS INCURRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS APPROXIMATELY $2,5 MILLION, WHICH HAS BEEN OR WILL BE PAID FROM TEH HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TRUST FUND (SUPERFUND). ON JUNE 26, 1998, REGION 4 REFERRED A SECTION 107 COST RECOVERY CASE TO DOJ, SEEKING TO RECOVER COSTS INCURRED BY EPA (AND THE COAST GUARD, NOAA, AND ATSDR. THE SUIT WILL BE FILED AGAINST POWELL DUFFRYN TERMINALS, INC. AND POSSIBLY ITS PARENT CORPORATION. CAA - ACTION REFERRED TO DOJ 5/29/97. PDT OPERATES A BULK TRANSFER AND STORAGE FACILITY IN SAVANNAH, GA, ADJACENT TO THE SAVANNAH RIVER. AT 11:30 P.M. ON THE EVENING OF 4/10/95, AN ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANK CONTAINING 211,000 GALLONS OF TURPENTINE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE INCIDENT AROSE PRIMARILY FROM PDT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE FACILITY. PDT VIOLATION THE SECTION 112(R) OF THE CAA (GENERAL DUTY CLAUSE), BY FAILING: (1) TO IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH STORING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS; (2) TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT SYSTEMS TO ELIMINATE OR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE HAZARDS; AND (3) TO CREATE SYSTEMS TO MINIMIZE THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OF A FIRE EMERGENCY.