STATE OF INDIANA

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BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT

 

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SS:

OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

COUNTY OF MARION

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COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT

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OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

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Complainant,

 

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v.

 

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Case No. 2005-14418-H

 

 

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JOHN RIDGE,

 

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d/b/a RIDGE AND SONS SALVAGE,

 

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Respondent

 

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AGREED ORDER

 

The Complainant and the Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order.  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein.  Respondent’s entry into this Agreed Order shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except a proceeding to enforce this order.

 

I.  FINDINGS OF FACT

 

1.                  Complainant is the Commissioner (“Complainant”) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a department of the State of Indiana created by IC 13-13-1-1.

 

2.                  Respondent is John Ridge, d/b/a Ridge and Sons Salvage ("Respondent"), who owns and operates a salvage yard located at 407 West 9th Street, in Sheridan, Hamilton County, Indiana (“Site”).

 

3.                  The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”) has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action.

 

4.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, on March 18, 2005, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation via Certified Mail to:

 

Mr. John Ridge

407 West 9th Street

Sheridan, Indiana 46069

 

5.                  Respondent owns and operates a salvage yard and collects scrap metal for processing at another location. 

 

6.                  An inspection on May 12, 2004, was conducted at the Site by a representative of IDEM’s Office of Land Quality (“OLQ”).  The following violations were in existence or observed at the time of this inspection:

 

a.                  Pursuant to 40 CFR 262.11, a person who generates a solid waste must determine if that waste is hazardous.  Specifically, Respondent did not make hazardous waste determinations on the contents of numerous unlabeled 55-gallon drums which were solid waste generated by Respondent.  Subsequent to the inspection, Respondent determined that the drums either contained blacktop sealer or were empty.

 

b.                  Pursuant to 329 IAC 10-4-2, no person shall cause or allow the storage, containment, processing, or disposal of solid waste in a manner which creates a threat to human health or the environment, including the creating of a fire hazard, vector attraction, air or water pollution, or other contamination.   Specifically, Respondent caused and/or allowed  automotive fluids, oil, waste tires, and other solid waste to be disposed on the ground in several areas at the Site in a manner which creates a threat to human health or the environment.

 

c.                  Pursuant to 329 IAC 10-4-3, open dumping and open dumps, as those terms are defined in IC 13-11-2-146 and IC 13-11-2-147, are prohibited.  Specifically, Respondent caused and/or allowed automotive fluids, oil, waste tires and other solid waste, to be open dumped on the ground in several areas, particularly in the fenced areas near at the rear of the Site.

 

d.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-2-1(3), no person shall deposit any contaminant upon the land in a place or manner that creates or would create a pollution hazard that violates or would violate 329 IAC 10-4-2 and 329 IAC 10-4-3.   Specifically, Respondent deposited automotive fluids, oil, waste tires and other solid waste on the ground in several areas at the Site.

 

e.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-2-1(4), no person shall deposit or cause or allow the deposit of contaminants or solid waste upon the land, except through the use of sanitary landfills, incineration, composting, garbage grinding, or another method acceptable to the solid waste management board.  Specifically,  Respondent caused and/or allowed automotive fluids, oil, waste tires and other solid waste to be deposited at the Site in a manner unacceptable to the solid waste management board.

 

f.                    Pursuant to IC 13-30-2-1(5), no person shall dump or cause or allow the open dumping of garbage or any other solid waste in violation of 329 IAC 10-4-2 and 329 IAC 10-4-3.  Specifically, Respondent caused and/or allowed automotive fluid, oil, waste tires and other solid waste to be open dumped at the Site.

 

g.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-2-1(1), no person shall discharge, emit, cause, or allow any contaminant or waste, including any noxious odor, either alone or in combination with contaminants from other sources, into the environment in violation of 329 IAC 10-4-2 and 329 IAC 10-4-3.  Specifically, Respondent allowed waste automotive fluids and oil to be released into the environment in several areas at the Site.

 

7.                  On February 2, 2006 and February 10, 2006, Respondent submitted documentation to IDEM that 55 gallon drums, tires and other solid wastes have been removed and disposed.

 

8.                  In recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

 

II.  ORDER

 

1.                  This Agreed Order shall be effective ("Effective Date") when it is approved by the Complainant or his delegate, and has been received by the Respondent.  This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

 

2.                  Upon the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall comply with IC 13-30-2-1(1).  Specifically, Respondent shall take immediate steps to capture any potential release of fluids and immediately cease allowing the release of contaminants into the environment.

 

3.                  Upon the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall cease open dumping at the Site.

 

4.                  Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall comply with IC 13-30-2-1(3), (4) and (5).   Specifically, Respondent shall clean up the releases at the Site by excavating the soil six inches beyond visible contamination.

 

5.                  Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall fill the area excavated in the fenced area at the rear of the Site with clean fill dirt topped and maintained with gravel. 

 

6.                  Within seventy-five (75) days of the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall submit to IDEM documentation that releases in the above areas have been cleaned up and that gravel has been placed in the area excavated in the fenced area at the rear of the Site. 

 

7.                  All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless notified otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:

 

Nancy Johnston, Section Chief

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Office of Enforcement Mail Code 60-02

100 N. Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

 

8.                  In the event the terms and conditions of the following paragraphs are violated, the Complainant may assess and the Respondent shall pay a stipulated penalty in the following amount:

 

Violation

Penalty

Failure to comply with Order paragraph 4

$500 per week

Failure to comply with Order paragraph 5

$500 per week

Failure to comply with Order paragraph 6

$500 per week

 

9.                  Stipulated penalties shall be due and payable within thirty (30) days after Respondent receives written notice that the Complainant has determined a stipulated penalty is due.  Assessment and payment of stipulated penalties shall not preclude the Complainant from seeking any additional relief against the Respondent for violation of the Agreed Order.  In lieu of any of the stipulated penalties given above, the Complainant may seek any other remedies or sanctions available by virtue of Respondent’s violation of this Agreed Order or Indiana law, including, but not limited to, civil penalties pursuant to IC 13-30-4.

 

10.             Stipulated penalties are payable by check to the Environmental Management Special Fund.  Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Cashier’s Office            Mail Code 50-10C

100 N. Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

11.             This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon the Respondent, its successors and assigns. The Respondent's signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this document and legally bind the parties they represent.  No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of the Respondent shall in any way alter its status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

12.             In the event that any terms of the Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

 

13.             Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreed Order, the Complainant reserves, and this Agreed Order is without prejudice to, the right to institute proceedings in this action or in a new action for injunctive relief, costs, civil penalty and/or remediation of environmental contamination that is either discovered after the entry into the Agreed Order or that has not been adequately remedied despite compliance by Respondent with the terms of this Agreed Order.

 

14.             The Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred.   Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

 

15.             This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until IDEM issues a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

Mayhugh Auto Sales

 

 

By: __________________________

By: ______________________

Nancy L. Johnston, Chief

 

Office of Enforcement

 

 

Printed: __________________

 

 

 

Title: _ ___________________

 

 

Date: ________________________

Date: ____________________

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR COMPLAINANT:

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

 

 

By: ______________ __________

By: __________________________

Office of Legal Counsel

 

 

 

Date: _______________________

Date: ________________________

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

 

 

MANAGEMENT THIS

____

DAY OF

________________

, 200

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For The Commissioner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed 2/28/06

 

 

 

Matthew T. Klein

 

 

 

Assistant Commissioner

 

 

 

of Compliance and Enforcement