PHILADELPHIA — The United States of America is suing a scrapyard company for allegedly releasing PCBs into the Delaware River.
The United States of America filed a complaint on Sept. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Versatile Metals Inc. for alleged violation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
According to the complaint, between 2007 and 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted an extensive investigation of defendant's site and revealed that elevated levels of PCB's and other hazardous substances remained at depth in soils at the site.
Plaintiff claims there has been a "release or threatened release" of hazardous substances into the environment that affects the public health, welfare, or the environment.
The plaintiff holds Versatile Metals Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly mishandled the scrap-metal inventory and failed to use reasonable care in releasing hazardous substances via groundwater into the sewer line beneath the site.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for declaratory judgment, costs incurred, accrued interest and such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. They are represented by Nathaniel Douglas and John Sither of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case No. is 2:18-cv-04126-JP.