# VERTAC AND HERCULES
> **Judicial** · FY1984 · — · —
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `33794`
- **Case Number:** 06-1984-0008
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** —
- **Penalty assessed:** —
- **Cost recovery:** —
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- HERCULES INC. (complaint)
- VERTAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION (complaint)
## Summary

NATURE OF THE CASE:  THE PLANT WAS USED FOR THE PRODUCTION     OF PESTICIDES FROM THE LATE 1940'S TO THE PRESENT.  HER-     CULES WAS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR FROM THE LATE 1950'S UN-    TIL 1972 WHEN THE COMPANY, TO WHICH VERTAC IS THE SUCCESS    OR, FIRST LEASED AND THEN PURCHASED THE SITE.  THE MAIN      PRODUCTS AT THE PLANT DURING BOTH VERTAC'S AND HERCULES'     OWNERSHIP WERE 2,4-D AND 2,4,5-T.  UNTIL THE LATE 1970'S,    WASTES FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THESE PRODUCTS WERE DISP-    OSED OF ON-SITE IN LANDFILL.  IN ADDITION, APPROX. 12,000    DRUMS OF WASTE ARE STORED ON-SITE.  PRIOR TO DISCHARGING     PROCESS WATER TO THE JACKSONVILLE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT,    WASTEWATER WAS  TREATED  IN AN EQUALIZATION BASIN ON-SITE,   WHICH IS ALSO HIGHLY CONTAMINATED.  OTHER CONTAMINATED       AREAS INCLUDED COOLING WATER POND, SURFACE AREAS WITHIN      THE PLANT SITE, AND SOME OFF-SITE AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN       ROCKY BRANCH CREEK AND IN AREAS NEAR THE JACKSONVILLE        SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT.  GROUNDWATER AND BEDROCK ARE ALSO    CONTAMINATED UNDER THE PLANT SITE.  THE CONTAMINANTS FOUND   IN THE AREAS LISTED ABOVE ARE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES UNDER     CERCLA.  THE VERTAC SITE IS ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITY LIST    AND IS A TIER I DIOXIN SITE.                                 THIS REFERRAL SUPPLEMENTS THE CURRENT CASE AGAINST VERTAC    AND HERCULES WHICH WAS FILED IN 1980.  THE GOVERNMENT FIL-   ED A MOTION TO AMEND THE RCRA COMPLAINT TO ADD CERCLA        COUNTS; HOWEVER, BEFORE THE COURT 

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