# UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY (A/K/A AMERENUE) > **Administrative - Formal** · FY2001 · — · Final Order With Penalty ## Case - **Activity ID:** `33142` - **Case Number:** 05-2001-0508 - **Type:** Administrative - Formal - **Lead:** EPA - **Outcome:** Final Order With Penalty - **Penalty assessed:** $15K - **Cost recovery:** — - **Compliance action $:** — - **Multimedia (multi-env):** N ## Defendants - AMERENUE CORPORATION (complaint) (settlement) - UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY (settlement) ## Summary ON DECEMBER 27, 2000, AT 10:00 A. AMEREN CORPORATION, UNION ELECTRIC, 701 MAIN STREET, VENICE, ILLINOIS HAD A 1,170 GALLON RLEASE OF FERRIC SULFATE SOLUTION. THE 1.170 GALLONS WOULD EQUAL ABOUT 5.973 POUND OF PURE FERRIC SULFATE. FERRIC SULFATE IS A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE UNDER THE COMPREHEN- SIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY ACT WITH A 1,000-POUND REPORTABLE QUANTITY (RQ). THIS RELEASE IS ALMOST SIX TIMES THE RQ. THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE FACILITY CALLED THE ANTIONAL RESPONSE CENTER ON DECEMBER 27, 2000, AT 2:15 PM, OR 4 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES AFTER KNOWLEDGE OF THE RELEASE. THIS RELEASE IMPACTED THE GRAVEL AND SOIL AROUND THE POINT OF THE RELEASE. FERRIC SULFATE IS NOT A VOLATILE CHEMICAL. THIS IS THEIR SECOND CERCLA VIOLATION. ON NOVEMBER 13, 1997, U.S. EPA FILED A CONSENT AGREEMENY AND CONSENT ORDER FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRON- MENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT DOCKET NUMBER 5-CERCLA-97-003. THEY FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER OF A SULFURIC ACID RELEASE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. ON DECEMBER 27, 2000, AT 10:00 A.M., THE FACILITY FAILED TO PROMPTLY REPORT A 5,973 POUND RELEASE OF FERRIC SULFATE, A CERCLA HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE. THE RELEASE OCCURRED WHEN A PLASTIC PIPE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO A STORAGE TANK DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK AND THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK EMPTIED ONTO THE GROUND. THE RELEASE DID NOT LEA --- *Source: [EPA ECHO](https://echo.epa.gov/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*