# BESTFOODS (AEROJET)
> **Judicial** · FY1999 · — · —
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `32053`
- **Case Number:** 05-1999-0771
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** —
- **Penalty assessed:** —
- **Cost recovery:** —
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- AEROJET - GENERAL CORP. (complaint)
- BESTFOODS (AEROJET)
- CORDOVA CHEMICAL CO. OF MICHIGAN (complaint)
- CORDOVA CO. OF CALIFORNIA (complaint)
## Summary

AEROJET, THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARIES, IS THE PRESENT OWNER/     OPERATOR OF THIS DEFUNCT CHEMICAL PLANT.  SITE WAS CONTAMI-  NATED WITH WASTE DISPOSED ONSITE FROM THE PRODUCTION OF      METHYL ISOCYANIDE AND OTHER CHEMICALS BY OTT CHEMICAL I AND  OTT CHEMICAL II, WHICH IS A SUBSIDIARY OF BESTFOODS, INC.,   F/K/A CPC INT'L. INC.  APPARENTLY AEROJET AND ITS SUBS DID   NOT DISPOSE OF WASTE ONSITE.  SITE OWNERSHIP WAS AS FOLLOWS: 1956 - OTT 1, 1965 - OTT II, 1972 - STORY CHEMICAL (BANKRUPT , 1978 - PRESENT, CORDOVA OF MICHIGAN (FROM BANKRUPTCY       TRUSTEE).  THE STATE OF MICHIGAN INDEMNIFIED AEROJET AND     SUBSIDIARIES AT TIME OF AEROJET'S PURCHASE FROM ALL ENVIRON- MENTAL LIABILITY IN EXCHANGE FOR PARTIAL SITE CLEANUP AND    $600,000.  EPA FILED COST RECOVERY CASE UNDER CERCLA IN      1989.  AFTER OVER 70 DEPOSITIONS AND 2 MILLION DOCUMENTS IN  DISCOVERY, TRIAL TOOK PLACE IN MAY - JUNE 1991.  DISTRICT    COURT FINDS ALL DEFENDANTS LIABLE, INCLUDING PARENT CORPORA- TIONS AEROJET AND CPC. 6TH CIRCUIT, EN BANC, REVERSES (7-5). U.S. APPEALS TO U.S. SUPREME COURT, WHICH ISSUES AN OPINION  IN 1998.  CASE REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEDINGS CONSISTENT    WITH S. CT. OPINION.  DURING FEDERAL PROCEDINGS, AEROJET     SUCCESSFULLY SUED MICHIGAN TO ENFORCE IMDEMNITY AGREEMENT,   LEAVING MICHIGAN POTENTIALLY LIABLE FOR OVER $100 MILLION IN PAST AND FUTURE RESPONSE COSTS.                                THIS CONSENT DECREE REQUIRES AEROJET TO PERFORM RD/R FOR   OU3 (SITE SOILS), ACKNOWLEDGES AEROJ

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