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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
P l a i n t i f f , )
v . )
CITY OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT, )
Def en da n t . )
Ci v i l Ac t i o n No .
COMP LAINT
The Un i t ed St a t es o f Ameri c a , by a u t ho ri t y o f ' t he At t o rn ey G en era l o f t he Un i t ed St a gs
a n d t hro u gh t he u n ders i gn ed a t t o rn eys , a c t i n g a t t he req u es t o f t he Admi n i s t ra t o r o f t he
Un i t ed St a t es En v i ro n men t a l P ro t ec t i o n Agen c y (`BP A"), f i l es t hi s c o mpl a i n t a n d a l l eges
a s f o l l o w s :
NATURE OF THE ACTION
L Thi s i s a c i v i l a c t i o n u n der Sec t i o n s 107(a ) a n d 113 (g)(2 ) o f t he Co mprehen s i v e
En v i ro n men t a l Res po n s e, Co mpen s a t i o n , a n d Li a bi l i t y Ac t , a s a men ded ("CERCLA"), 42
U. S. C. 960~(a ) a n d 9613 (g)(2 ). In t hi s a c t i o n , t he Un i t ed St a t es s eek s t c ~ rec o v er c o s t s
i n c u rred a n d t o be i n c u rred by t 11e Un i t ed St a t es i n c o n du c t i n g a c t i o n s i n res po n s e t o rel ea s es o r
t hrea t en ed rel ea s e o f ha za rdo u s s u bs t a n c es a t o r f ro m t he O' Su l l i v a n ' s Is l a n d Su perf u n d Si t e
("Si t e") l o c a t ed i n t he Ci t y o f Derby, Co u n t y o f New Ha v en , Co n n ec t i c u t .
SDIG TION AND VENUE
2 . Thi s Cc > u rt ha s j u ri s di c t i o n o v er t he s u bj ec t ma t t er o f t hi s a c t i o n a n d o v er t he pa z- t i es
pu ~ s u a n t t o 2 $ U,S,C. 13 3 1 a n d 13 45, a n d Sec t i o n 113 (b) o f CERCLA, 42 U,S. C,
Case 3:14-cv-01594-WWE Document 1 Filed 10/28/14 Page 1 of 7
9613 ( b ) .
3. Venue i s p r o p er i n t h i s j ud i c i a l d i s t r i c t p ur s ua nt t o 2$ U. S. C. 1391 a nd Sec t i o n 113{b )
o f CERCLA, 42 U. S. C. 961 ~ ( b ) , b ec a us e t h e c l a i m s - a r o s e i n t h i s d i s t r i c t , t h e r el ea s e o r
t h r ea t ened r el ea s e o f h a za r d o us s ub s t a nc es o c c ur r ed i n t h i s d i s t r i c t , a nd . t h e Si t e i s l o c a t ed i n t h i s
d i s t r i c t .
DEFENDANT
4. Defend a nt Ci t y o f Der b y ( "Der b y ") i s a m uni c i p a l c o r p o r a t i o n c r ea t ed , o r g a ni zed a nd
ex i s t i ng und er t h e l a ws o f t h e St a t e o f Co nnec t i c ut , a nd a p o l i t i c a l s ub d i v i s i o n o f t h e St a t e o f
Co nnec t i c ut .
5 . Der b y i s a p er s o n wi t h i n t h e m ea ni ng o f Sec t i o n 101( 21) o f CERCLA, 42 U. S. C.
9601( 21) .
STATUTORY FR~ M~ WORK
6. CERCLA wa s ena c t ed i n 1980 t o p r o v i d e a c o m p r eh ens i v e g o v er nm ent a l m ec h a ni s m fo r
a b a t i ng r el ea s es a nd t h r ea t ened r el ea s es o f h a za r d o us s ub s t a nc es a nd o t h er p o l l ut a nt s a nd
c o nt a m i na nt s a nd fo r fund i ng t h e c o s t s o f s uc h a b a t em ent a nd r el a t ed enfo r c em ent a c t i v i t i es ,
wh i c h a r e kno wn a s r es p o ns e a c t i o ns . 42 U. S. C. 9604( a ) , 9601( 25 ) .
7 . Und er Sec t i o n 104{a ) ( 1) o f CERCLA, a s a m end ed , wh enev er a ny h a za r d o us s ub s t a nc e i s
r el ea s ed i nt o t h e env i r o nm ent , o r t h er e i s a s ub s t a nt i a l . t h r ea t o f s uc h a r el ea s e i nt o t h e
env i r o nm ent , t h e P r es i d ent i s a ut h o r i zed t o a c t , c o ns i s t ent wi t h t h e Na t i o na l Co nt i ng enc y P l a n, t o
r em o v e o r a r r a ng e fo r s t h e r em o v a l o f t h e h a za r d o us s ub s t a nc e. 42 U. S. C. ~ 9604( a ) ( 1) .
8. Fa r CERCLA r es p o ns e a c t i o ns a nd enfo r c em ent p ur p o s es , t h e Ad m i ni s t i a t o r o f LP A i s
t h e P r es i d ent ' s d el eg a t e, a s p z~ o v i d ed i n o p er a t i v e Ex ec ut i v e Or d er s . . Wi t h i n c er t a i n l i m i t s , t h e
EP A Ad m ~ i ni s t a-a t o r h a s r e- d el eg a t ed t h i s a ut h o r i t y t o fh e EP A Reg i o na l Ad m i ni s t r a t o r s .
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9 . S e c t i o n 1 0 7 ( a ) o f CERCLA p r o v i d e s :
a j N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y o t h e r p r o v i s i o n o r r u l e o f l a w , . a n d
s u b j e c t o n l y t o t h e d e fe n s e s s e t fo r t h i n s u b s e c t i o n {b ) o f t h i s
s e c t i o n
( 1 ) t h e o w n e r a n d o p e r a t o r o f a v e s s e l o r a fa c i l i t y,
( 2) a n y p e r s o n . w h o a t t h e t u n e o f d i s p o s a l o f a n y
h a za r d o u s s u b s t a n c e o w n e d o r o p e r a t e d a n y fa c i l i t y
a t ~ w h i c h s u c h h a za r d o u s s u b s t a n c e s w e r e d i s p o s e d
o f,
. . . fr o m w h i c h t h e r e i s a r e l e a s e , o r a t h r e a t e n e d r e l e a s e w h i c h c a u s e s t h e
i n c u r r e n c e o f r e s p o n s e c o s t s , o f a h a za r d o u s s u b s t a n c e , s h a l l b e l i a b l e
fo r
( A) a l l c o s t s o f r e mo v a l o r r e me d i a l a c t i o n
i n c u r r e d b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Go v e r n me n t
. . . n o t i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l
c o n t i n g e n c y p l a n ; . . .
42 U . S . C. ~ 9 6 0 7 {a ) .
S ITE DES CRIPTION AN D FACTU AL BACKGROU N D
1 0 . Th e s e v e n- a c r e O' S u l l i v a n ' s Is l a n d S i t e i s l o c a t e d o n a p e n i n s u l a a t t h e c o n fl u e n c e o f
t h e Ho u s a t o n i c a n d N a u g a t u c k Ri v e r s i r 1 De r b y, Co n n e c t i c u t .
1 1 . In 1 9 83, b u r i e d 55- g a l l o n d r u ms w e r e d i s c o v e r e d a t t h e S i t e , l e a d i n g EPA t o c o n d u c t
t w o r e mo v a l a c t i o n s u n d e r CERCL~ 1 o v e r a t w o - ye a r p e r i o d . In t h e fi r s t , c o n d u c t e d l a t e r i n
1 9 $3, EPA r e mo v e d a p p r o x i ma t e l y 20 0 d r u ms c o n t a i n i n g h a za r d o u s s u b s t a n c e s . Be t w e e n
S e p t e mb e r 1 9 84 a n d J a n u a r y 1 9 85, EPA c o n d u c t e d a s e c o n d r e mo v a l . a c t i o n d u r i n g w h i c h i t
d i s p o s e d o f a p p r o x i ma t e l y 7 0 0 a d d i t i o n a l d r u ms c o n t a mi n a t e d w i t h o r c o 7 7 t a i n i n g h a za r d o u s
s u b s t a n c e s . EPA i n c u r r e d a p p r o x i ma t e l y $31 0 , 0 0 0 i n r e s p o n s e c o s t s i n p e r fo r mi n g t h e t w o
r e mo v a l s .
1 2. In 1 9 87 , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d De r b y e n t e r e d i n t o a Co n s e n t De c r e e r e s o l v i n g t h e U n i t e d
3
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S t a t e s ' cla ims f o r t h e r e co ve r y o f r e s po ns e co s t s r e la t ing t o t h e 19$3~a nd 1985 r e mo va l a ct io ns .
Unit e d S t a t e s v. C it y o f De r by, C o nne ct icu t , C ivil Act io n Nu mbe r 86-67 (D. C a nn. ).
13. In Ju ne , 2008, t h e lo ca l C o u ncil o f Go ve r nme nt s co nt a ct e d EPA r e q u e s t ing a s s is t a nce in
t h e r e mo va l o i' r e ina ining s o il a t t h e S it e t h a t wa s co nt a mina t e d wit h po lych lo r ina t e d biph e nyls
(I' C ~~3s ). EI' ~1 de t e r mine d t h a t S it e co ndit io ns , inclu ding in pa r t icu la r t h e PC B-co nt a mina t e d s o il,
po s e d a lie a It h t h r e a t ba s e d o n po t e nt ia l h u ma n co nt a ct . EPA s u bs e q u e nt ly de t e r mine d t h a t t h e
r e s po ns e a ct io n s h o u ld a ls o inclu de s a mpling a nd dis po s a l o f de g r a de d dr u ms co nt a ining
h a za r do u s s u bs t a nce s t h a t h a d be co me e xpo s e d a nd. u ns t a ble in t h e int e r ve ning ye a r s s ince
EPA' s r e mo va l a ct io ns in t h e 1. 980s .
14 . E1f t e r De r by de cline d t o u nde r t a k e t h e a ppr o pr ia t e wo r k a t t h e S it e , EPA pr o ce e de d t o
pe r f o r m t h e r e mo va l a ct io n.
1 S . S ince ?008, t h e Unit e d S t a t e s h a s incu r r e d o ve r $4 millio n, plu s int e r e s t , in r e s po ns e
co s t s a t a nd in co nne ct io n wit h t h e S it e .
16. On Fe br u a r y 27, 19b3, De r by be ca me t h e o wne r o f t h e la nd t h a t co ns t it u t e s t h e S it e .
De r by a cq u ir e d t it le t o t h e la nd t h r o u g h e xe cu t io n o f a de e d by t h e S t a t e o f C o nne ct icu t . Th a t
de e d wa s r e co r de d wit h t h e To wn C le r k f o r De r by, C o nne ct icu t , o n Apr il 15, 1. 963. At a ll t ime s
s ince 1963, De r by h a s be e n t h e o wne r o f t h e O' S u lliva n' s Is la nd S it e .
17. Du r ing t h e t ime t h a t De r by o wne d a nd o pe r a t e d t h e la nd a t t h e S it e , h a za r do u s
s u bs t a nce s , inclu ding PC Bs , we r e dis po s e d o f a t t h e S it e .
18. Ha za r do u s s u bs t a nce s a s de f ine d in S e ct io n 101(14 ) o f C ERC LA, 4 2 U. S . C . 9601(14 ),
inclu ding PC Bs , h a ve be e n de t e ct e d a t t h e S it e . Th e r e le a s e s a nd t h r e a t e ne d r e le a s e s o f
h a za r do u s s u bs t a nce s a t o r f r o m t h e S it e h a ve ca u s e d. t h e Unit e d S t a t e s t o incu r co s t s o f r e s po ns e
4
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not i nc ons i s te nt ~ ~ r i th th e N a ti ona l Conti nge nc y P l a n, 40 C.F.R. P a r t 300, of mor e th a n
$ 4, 000, 000.
GEN ERAL ALLEGATION S
1 9 . Th e Si te i s a fa c i l i ty w i th i n th e me a ni ng of Se c ti on l 0I {9 ) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C.
9 6 01 ( 9 ).
20. At a l l ti me s r e l e v a nt to th i s a c ti on, th e r e h a s be e n a " r e l e a s e " or a ` ' th r e a te ne d r e l e a s e "
of " h a za r d ous s ubs ta nc e s , ' ' i nc l ud i ng, but not l i mi te d to, P CBs , i nto th e e nv i r onme nt a t or fr om
th e Si te , w i th i n th e me a ni ng of Se c ti ons 1 01 ( 1 4), I01 ( 22) a nd 1 07( a ) of GERCLA, 42 U.S.C.
9 6 01 ( 1 4), 9 6 01 ( 22), a nd 9 6 07( a ).
21 . De r by i s w i th i n th e c l a s s of l i a bl e p e r s ons d e s c r i be d i n Se c ti ons 1 07{a )( 1 ) a nd ( a ){2)
of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9 6 07( a ){1 ) a nd ( a )( 2), be c a us e i t ow ne d a nd op e r a te d th e Si te a t th e
ti me of d i s p os a l of h a za r d ous s ubs ta nc e s a t th e Si te a nd i s th e c ur r e nt ow ne r of th e Si te .
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
R~ ~ SP ON SE COSTS UN DER CERCLA SECTION 1 07( a )
22. P a r a gr a p h s 1 - 21 , i nc l us i v e , a r e r e a l l e ge d a nd i nc or p or a te d h e r e i n by r e fe r e nc e .
23. In und e r ta k i ng r e s p ons e a c ti ons to a d d r e s s th e r e l e a s e or th r e a t of r e l e a s e of h a za r d ous
s ubs ta nc e s a t th e Si te , th e Uni te d Sta te s h a s i nc ur r e d ` ` r e s p ons e c os ts " a s d e fi ne d i n Se c ti on
1 01 ( 25) of CERCLA, 42 U.S, C. 9 6 01 ( 25), i nc l ud i ng but not l i mi te d to {a ) th e c os ts of
i nv e s ti ga ti ng th e Si te , ( b) th e c os ts of th e r e mov a l a c ti on, a nd ( c ) th e c os ts of v a r i ous
e nfor c e me nt a c ti v i ti e s .
24. EP A' s r e s p ons e a c ti ons ta k e n a t or i n c onne c ti on w i th th e Si te , a nd th e c a s ts i nc ur r e d
i nc i d e nt th e r e to, a r e not i nc ons i s te nt c ~ r i th th e N a ti ona l Conti nge nc y P l a n, w h i c h w a s
p r omul ga te d p ur s ua nt to Se c ti on 1 05 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. ~ 9 6 05, a nd i s c od i fi e d a t 40
5
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C.F.R. P a r t 300.
25. P u r s u a n t . t o S e c t i o n s 1 07 ( a ) ( 1 ) a n d { a ) ( 2) o f CERCLA, 42 U.S .C. 9 6 07 ( a ) ( 1 ) a n d
( a ) ( 2) , De fe n da n t De r by i s j o i n t l y a n d s e v e r a l l y l i a bl e t o t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s fo r a l l c o s t s i n c u r r e d
by t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e S i t e , i n c l u di n g e n fo r c e me n t c o s t s a n d. i n t e r e s t o n a l l .
s u c h c o s t s .
P RAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, P l a i n t i ff, t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s o f Ame r i c a , p r a ys t h a t t h e Co u r t :
a . En t e r j u dg me n t i n ' fa v o r o f t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s a n d a g a i n s t De fe n da n t De r by fo r a l l
u n r e i mbu r s e d r e s p o n s e c o s t s i n c u r r e d by t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e S i t e , i n c l u di n g
e n fo r c e me n t c o s t s a n d p r e j u dg me n t i n t e r e s t , p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 1 07 ( a ) ( 4) ( A) o f CERCLA,
42 U.S .C. 9 6 07 ( a ) ( 4) ( A) ; a n d
b. En t e r a g a i n s t De fe n da n t De r by a n d i n fa v o r o f t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s , p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n
1 1 3( 8 ) ( 2) o f CERCLA, 42 U.S .C. 9 6 1 3( 8 ) ( 2) , a de c l a r a t o r y j u dg me n t o n l i a bi l i t y t h a t w i l l be
bi n di n g o n a n y s ~ i bs e c ~ u e n t a c t i o n o r a c t i o n s t o r e c o v e r fu r t h e r r e s p o n s e c o s t s ; a n d
c . Aw a r d t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s i t s c o s t s o f t h i s a c t i o n ; a n d
d. G r a n t . s u c h o t h e r a n d fu r t h e r r e l i e f a s t h e Co u r t de e ms j u s t a n d p r o p e r .
Re s p e c t fu l l y s u bmi t t e d,
S AM HIRS CH
Ac t i n g As s i s t a n t At t o r n e y G e n e r a l .
En v i r o n me n t a n d N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e s Di v i s i o n
/ s / P c t e y~ K. Ka u t s
P E' T ' ER K. KAUT S KY
T r i a l At t o r n e y
U.S . De p a r t me n t o f J u s t i c e
En v i r o n me n t a n d N a t u r a l Re s o u r c e s
En v i r o n me n t a l En fo r c e me n t S e c t i o n
P .O. Bo x 7 6 1 l
Wa s h i n g t o n , D.C. 20044-7 6 1 1
Case 3:14-cv-01594-WWE Document 1 Filed 10/28/14 Page 6 of 7
DETRDRE M. DALY
United S ta tes Atto r ney
Dis tr ic t o f C o nnec tic u t
/ s / Lis u E. P er k ins
LIS A E. P ERKINS (c t23164)
As s is ta nt United S ta tes Atto r ney
U.S . Atto r ney ' s O ffic e
H a r tfo r d O ffic e
450 Ma in S tr eet, Ro o m 328
H a r tfo r d, C o nnec tic u t 06103
Tel .: (860) 947-l l 01
Fa x: (860) 760-7979
l is a , p er k ins ~ u s do j .g o v
: ~ r Z~ l ~ ~ [.~ 1J
C y nthia Lewis
O ffic e o f Reg io na l C o u ns el
U.S . Env ir o nmenta l P r o tec tio n Ag enc y
Reg io n I
Case 3:14-cv-01594-WWE Document 1 Filed 10/28/14 Page 7 of 7

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