-
Needed: better protection for public interest October 2nd, 1976
Page 4
Important Quotes:
“If no one would have reported the fish kill or if Chem-Dyne had not been spotlighted by its troubles with a smoking tank car in April, we could be fishing and playing in a river which has no visible sign of its contamination and dangers.”
“As much as 37 miles of the river was effectively killed.”
“state biological and environmental experts admit that the long-range effects of such spills are unknown.”
-
Chem-Dyne silent on EPA charges September 30th, 1976
Page 1
-
City pleased with charges;
The pesticides: what were they?;
The events that placed Chem-Dyne in headlines;
State records show companies chartered;
Industrial waste disposal rules lacking, council told September 29th, 1976
Page 11
Important Quotes: “State officials issued a fact sheet detailing the three pesticides which are the basis for legal action against Chem-Dyne… INSECTICDES-DIELDRIN, HEPTACHLOR, ENDRIN”
“Records in the Secretary of State’s office in Columbus show that Chem-Dyne Corporation was chartered on Aug. 30, 1974.”
“The corporation’s purpose clause says that its purpose is chemical waste disposal….. in compliance with all laws and
environmental regulations.”
-
Chem-Dyne dumped
pesticides, chemicals in river,
state charges; What it means September 29th, 1976
Page 1
Important Quotes: “The suit seeks a total of $340,000 in fines, the permanent cessation of illegal discharges into Ohio waters and
abatement of air pollution nuisance”
“The suit charges the defendants with discharging industrial wastes, including the pesticides endrin,
dieldrin and heptachlor, into the Great Miami River without obtaining a permit… It also charges the defendants were responsible for three separate fish kills which resulted in the destruction of 1,086,926 fish and other aquatic animals.”
“Fishermen are cautioned that the long-range effect of the pollutants is not known and will not be known for some time… Parents should urge their children not to wade, play, or swim in the Great Miami River as a precaution.”
-
Leaking truck halted in Ky. September 17th, 1976
Page 7
Important Quotes:
“The truck driver, identified as Larry Stanks, of Cincinnati, was treated at a Kentucky hospital after being covered by the chemical waste while trying to repair the valve, authorities reported.”
“Police said they were alerted about the leak by motorists behind the truck. ‘Evidently the fumes irritated their eyes and they had to pull off the road because they couldn’t go on’”
“Whitten estimated that less than 500 gallons of the chemical waste was spilled. He said the chemical “is an eye irritant, but other than that it’s relatively non-hazardous.”
-
Welder injured at chemical plant August 18th, 1976
Page 9
-
City units return to Chem-Dyne to keep watch on steaming tanker August 13th, 1976
Page 7
Important Quotes:
“Firemen were summoned to the scene with a pumper unit about 2a.m. after police said they saw the truck giving off steam or smoke and emitting a foul order. Firemen did not spray the tanker.”
“One firefighter had to be taken to the hospital and two police officers complained of suffering irritations and feeling nauseous after reportedly inhaling the gaseous emission.”
“Bruce Whitten, Chem-Dyne president, said late this morning that the company had been cleaning sludge from the tanker the past two days. ‘It’s a routine tank cleaning that’s done all the time,’ he said. ‘The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was here yesterday and said it’s okay. The city just over-reacted.”
-
Order sought by firm against Hamilton denied July 8th, 1976
Page 11
Important Quotes:
“’This court has heard only conclusions and or interpretations by the plaintiff and no evidence has been presented which would give rise or be the basis for a temporary restraining order.”
-
Tank no peril, Chem-Dyne says July 7th, 1976
Page 15
Important Quotes:
“Chem-Dyne vice president William Kovacs testified this morning that, in his opinion, the tanker incident involved no threat or hazard.”
-
Chem-Dyne trial tactic draws protest from city July 3rd, 1976
Page 2
Important Quotes:
“Koehler contends that the use of ‘proffer procedure’ by Chem-Dyne attorneys Hugh Holbrock and John Willard is incorrect under Ohio law.”
-
Police Blotters July 2nd, 1976
Page 36
Important Quotes:
“William L. Kovacs, vice president of Chem-Dyne Corp., 500 Ford Blvd., reported items valued at $584 were taken from the firm Wednesday or Thursday. Missing were four calculators, an electric typewriter, an adding machine, clocks, and a brief case.”
*Likely no bearing to any environmental injustices conducted by Chem-Dyne, but interesting that a brief case went missing
-
Plant-city hearing recessed June 24th, 1976
Page 9
Important Quotes: “The corporation has continued its line of questioning under the legal umbrella of ‘proffer.’”
“Koehler [the city attorney] objected to being called a witness by company attorneys, but was overruled by Marrs. The judge added, however that the procedure was unethical and could possibly be referred to the Bar Association grievance committee.”
-
Can’t find city
officials? Look for ‘em in court June 23rd, 1976
Page 7
Important Quotes:
“Chem-Dyne
has charged the city with harassment and loss of business as a result of that incident, while Hamilton officials contend that corporate officials were uncooperative in what they (they city) viewed as a crisis situation”
“Kirsch testified that he had not made any contacts with Chem-Dyne customers regarding the corporation’s business, but also acknowledged that he did not know who the company’s customers were.”
“The test results provided by EPA, said Kirsch, showed some high concentrations of potentially dangerous materials.”
-
Chemical firm sues city, officials for $30 million June 5th, 1976
Page 21
Important Quotes:
“The suit charges the city officials with harassment following an application made by the company for a zoning variance earlier this year.”
“The suit also charges the defendants stopped company vehicles entering and leaving the plant and impounded one tank trailer. The suit charges the city of officials misrepresented the nature of the ‘emergency’ to state and federal agencies to harass the company.”
-
Incinerator bid remains stalled June 4th, 1976
Page 8
Important Quotes:
“The Hamilton Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday tabled for a third time a request by the Chem-Dyne Corp. for a conditional use permit to install a thermo-oxidizer incinerator.”
-
Tanker incident snags firm's plan May 27th, 1976
Page 11
Important Quotes: “Chem-Dyne Corp., involved in that controversial chemical tanker leak episode last month in Hamilton has encountered problems in Aurora, Ind. as a result.”
-
EPA to test dump samples May 12th, 1976
Page 11
Important Quotes:
“Tuesday’s excavation effort, conducted by state EPA authorities and chemical experts from the U.S. Army, resulted in the uncovering of about 40 fifty-gallon drums of oozing liquid from the lagoon site.”
“EPA officials are concerned that the materials are polluting or could pollute underground water and streams.”
-
Waste burner issue delayed May 7th, 1976
Page 9
Important Quotes:
“both City Manager Jack Kirsch and building commissioner Lloyd Towers said they have had difficulty obtaining information about chemicals now handled by Chem-Dyne, as well as those that would be burned in the incinerator.”
-
Danger at landfill
‘pure speculation’ May 6th, 1976
Page 15
Important Quotes:
“Though Forsthoff has been quoted saying the landfill presents no immediate danger, he said this morning that, until the OEPA receives additional information, “it’s pure speculation.”
“Forsthoff denied any connection between his agency’s desire to search the dump and last week’s leaking chemical tanker episode”
“Some reports have indicated the search was initiated after officials were told chemical waste from Chem-Dyne may have been disposed of at the landfill.
-
EPA dig delayed at Union landfill May 5th, 1976
Page 11
Important Quotes:
“Dump officials have refused to disclose what items are buried there and where they are buried.”
“Samples drawn from chemical containers in a warehouse at Chem-Dyne by OEPA representatives are being analyzed.”
-
Local clean water workshop tonight May 4th
Page 13
Related Article
Important Quotes:
“Local participation in the national Save Our Streams program culminates today with a test analysis of the Great Miami River and a public workshop tonight.”
-
Crisis over, but Chem-Dyne
Incident stays on mind of city May 4th, 1976
Page 13
Photo
-
EPA searches Hamilton plant May 4th, 1976
Page 1
Important Quotes:
“Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) officials late this morning served a search warrant on the Chem-Dyne Corp. in Hamilton and immediately began checking contents of containers in a company warehouse.”
“The remainder is occupied by Fisher Body… Kovacs cited potential dangers of explosion and illness created by a spraying process conducted by Fisher Body in that firm’s portion of the building. ‘We believe they are polluting,’ he charged. ‘There is runoff.’”
-
Tanker episode leaves plant, city officials fuming April 29th, 1976
Page 1
Important quotes:
“the City of Hamilton and the Chem-Dyne Corp. have begun trading charges over the way the episode was handled.”
“[Whitten] charged that he and others were harassed by police and other city officials and repeatedly stopped for ‘routine inspections.’”
“Whitten called statements that Chem-Dyne has failed to cooperate with the Fire
Department ‘totally unfounded.’”
“Whitten said: ‘The problem of repeated erroneous and untruthful statements by city officials attempting to link the company as the cause of all air, water, and land pollution in a 100-mile radius continues unabated.”
“Contrary to Whitten’s comments, the city manager said Chem-Dyne officials did not give full cooperation to police and firemen.”
“’They [Chem-Dyne officials] have repeatedly, on many occasions since Saturday night, ordered people off their property,’ Kirsch said. ‘They have ordered city, state and federal people off, and this is certainly to my knowledge.’”
“The city manager readily admitted that he knows little about Chem-Dyne, including how long it has been in operation and what its purpose is. He said the company has no permits or licenses from the city to run an industrial waste chemical operation.”
-
City may oust chemical plant April 29th, 1976
Page 15
Important Quotes:
“It seems to me they put profit above safety” -Mayor Witt
“[Councilman Fred Banker] said he personally would suspect what the motives of Chem-Dyne officials are and added that, ‘I strongly object to our city becoming a dumping ground for anybody’s chemicals.’”
“City Manager Jack Kirsch, questioned about the nature of the company, admitted he has ‘no knowledge’ of what waste products it handles or what waste processing equipment is has. ‘So therefore, the only thing they could do in Hamilton is ship them (chemicals) in and ship them out.’”