# GEBHART CHEMICAL CO.
> **Judicial** · FY1983 · — · Final Order With Specified Cost Recovery
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `25240`
- **Case Number:** 05-1983-0062
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** Final Order With Specified Cost Recovery
- **Penalty assessed:** —
- **Cost recovery:** $120K
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- CROPLAND CHEMICAL CORP. (complaint) (settlement)
- MORRISON COAL CO., INC. (complaint) (settlement)
- MORRISON GRAIN CO., INC. (complaint) (settlement)
- TROWBRIDGE, ROBERT (complaint) (settlement)
- WATERS, NORMAN (complaint) (settlement)
## Summary

NATURE OF THE CASE                                              ON JUNE 20, 1983, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION   OF U.S. EPA, REGION V COMMENCED AN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL ACTION  AT THE GEBHART FERTILIZER COMPANY IN LATHAM, ILLINOIS, TO    REMOVE HAZARDOUS PESTICIDE, HERBICIDE AND FERTILIZER WASTES  FROM AN ABANDONED FACILITY (HERIN AFTER REFERRED TO AS THE    SITE  OR  FACILITY ).  THE SITE IS DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN IN-  ACTIVE SINCE MARCH, 1982, WHEN UTILITY RECORDS INDICATE      THAT WATER WAS NO LONGER BEING USED AT THE FACILITY.              LATHAM IS A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY OF 550 PEOPLE.  THE 3-ACRE GEBHART SITE IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF A BUSINESS    AND RESIDENTIAL AREA OF LATHAM, AND IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED    FEET FROM THE TOWN'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT.  THE FARMING     CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS WERE STORED IN TWO DETERIORATING   AND UNSECURED BUILDINGS, EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.  A WATER WELL LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF THESE BUILDINGS WAS FOUND   TO BE SERVICEABLE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT IN OPERATION AT THE   TIME OF THE REMOVABLE ACTION.  OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST   SEVERAL YEARS, LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE CONTINUALLY COMPLAINED   OF STRONG ODORS BEING EMITTED FROM THE GEBHART FACILITY, AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN OBSERVED PLAYING ON THE PREMISES.              THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL ACTION WAS TAKEN TO PREVENT THE   DANGER OF DIRECT HUMAN CONTACT, FIRE, AND EXPLOSION POSED BY THE PRESENCE OF FLAMMABLE HAZARDOUS WASTE AT THE FACILITY.   OVER 150 TONS OF SOLID PESTICIDES, HER

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