# M/V RIO NEUQUEN
> **Judicial** · FY1985 · — · Final Order With Specified Cost Recovery
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `33890`
- **Case Number:** 06-1985-0007
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** Final Order With Specified Cost Recovery
- **Penalty assessed:** —
- **Cost recovery:** $500K
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- BERNADO CHEMICALS (complaint) (settlement)
- BERNADO CHEMICALS#2 (complaint) (settlement)
- EMPRESS LINEAS MARITIMAS ARGENTINAS, SA (complaint) (settlement)
- M/V RIO NEUQUEN (complaint) (settlement)
## Summary

06/03/85-THIS CAUSE OF ACTION IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF      IMMEDIATE REMOVAL COSTS INCURRED BY THE U. S. COAST GUARD    DURING THE PERIOD JULY 27, 1984 THROUGH AUGUST 8, 1984,      WHILE RESPONDING TO THE RELEASE OF A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE     FROM THE ARGENTINE VESSEL M/V RIO NEUQUEN, MOORED AT THE     PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY.  OF THE TWO CAUSES OF ACTION, ONE  IS AGAINST THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE VESSEL, EMPRESAS   LINEAS MARITIMAS ARGENTINAS, S. A., AND THE OTHER IS AGAINST BERNADO CHEMICAL, LTD., THE GENERATOR OF THE HAZARDOUS SUB-  STANCE, ALUMINUM PHOSPHIDE FUMIGANT (SOLD UNDER THE NAME     GASTOXIN).  THE MATTER WAS REFFERED TO EPA FROM THE COAST    GUARD PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 12316 AND THE INSTRUMENT   OF REDELEGATION DATED OCTOBER, 1981.                           ON JULY 27, 1984, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OF SAID VESSEL RE SULTING IN THE DEATH OF ONE LONGSHOREMAN, INJURIES TO        SEVERAL OTHERS AND A SMALL  FIRE.  THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED    IN A TWENTY FOOT CARGO CONTAINER CONTAINING IMPROPERLY       SEALED ALUMINUM FLASKS OF ALUMINUM PHOSPHIDE FUMIGANT        PACKED IN CARDBOARD BOXES AND STORED IN THE UPPER 'TWEEN     DECK OF THE VESSEL'S NUMBER TWO HOLD.  THE RELEASE OF A      LARGE QUANTITY OF TOXIC-FLAMMABLE PHOSPHINE GAS FOLLOWED THE EXPLOSION, CREATING POTENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR ADDITIONAL      EXPLOSIONS.  WHILE STABILIZING THE MATERIAL IN THE HOLD WITH NITROGEN, THE COAST GAURD REPACKED THE FUMIGANT IN RECOVERY  DRUMS AND CONTROLLED THE TEMPERATURE O

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