HPI Products Inc. Facilities, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri – Fact Sheet, June 2022
Public Comment Period - Request for Community Concerns
Introduction
HPI Products Inc., St. Joseph Properties LLC, and Mr. William Garvey (Defendants) own/operate three pesticide manufacturing, storage, and distribution facilities located in St. Joseph, Missouri. Since 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state of Missouri, Missouri Attorney General, and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (jointly, Plaintiffs) have sought the Defendants’ compliance with the 2011 Consent Decree (CD) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
The 2011 CD is an agreement filed in federal court to resolve violations of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). This Fact Sheet is intended to update the community of St. Joseph on the status of the Defendants’ facilities and request concerns from the community.
Background
The 2011 CD covered the following facilities located in St. Joseph:
- 222 Sylvanie (also includes 313 South 3rd Street)
- 424 S. 8th Street
- 417 S. 4th Street
- 1300 S. 8th Street
- 317 W. Florence Road
- 1421 S. 11th Street (also includes 1301 S. 11th Street)
The 222 Sylvanie, 317 W. Florence Road, and 1421/1301 S. 11th Street facilities are currently the only operating facilities.
Since at least 2007, the Defendants have stored thousands of containers of hazardous, non-hazardous, and uncharacterized wastes at their facilities that are located in overburdened communities. Over several years, EPA and state inspectors repeatedly found rusted and leaking containers at the Defendants’ facilities and observed that the facilities themselves were dilapidated, with some buildings partially collapsed or in danger of collapse. The city of St. Joseph has repeatedly sought compliance with city codes.
Enforcement History
In 2007, EPA issued three Unilateral Administrative Orders (UAOs) for the 222 Sylvanie, 424 S. 8th Street, and 417 S. 4th Street facilities. The UAOs required the Defendants to identify the waste at their facilities and initiate cleanup efforts. In 2008, the Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging violations of multiple state and federal environmental laws, and seeking penalties and the Defendants to identify the waste and initiate cleanup efforts at the UAO facilities, as well as three additional facilities located at 1300 S. 8th Street, 317 W. Florence Road, and 1421/1301 S. 11th Street. In 2011, the Defendants agreed to a settlement (2011 CD) but the Plaintiffs observed only sporadic progress addressing the waste and required cleanup.
In 2018, the Plaintiffs filed a motion asking the Court to hold the Defendants in contempt and to appoint a receiver to determine if the Defendants had the financial viability to comply with the 2011 CD. The motion was granted, however the Plaintiffs agreed to pause the Court’s Order after the Defendants established an escrow account to begin funding the required work and agreed to timelines for accomplishing it. Though the Defendants complied with some CD requirements, generally, noncompliance continued and the cleanup efforts slowed. Consequently, in June 2021, the Plaintiffs moved the Court to reinstate the Order to appoint a temporary receiver and to freeze the Defendants’ assets and prohibit the further generation of waste, unless authorized by the Plaintiffs. On Jan. 14, 2022, Judge Kays of the Western District of Missouri issued an Order appointing a temporary receiver, for a period of 60 days, to take control of the Defendants’ assets, including their facilities, and to determine if the Defendants have the financial viability to comply with the Consent Decree.
Current Status
On March 15, 2022, the temporary receiver submitted a report to the Court recommending that the receivership be extended until June 30, 2022, to provide additional time for the temporary receiver’s operation of the Defendants’ business to generate revenue to pay for third-party oversight of operations and initiation of compliance efforts. On March 15, 2022, the Court granted the Plaintiffs’ request to extend the temporary receivership to June 30, 2022.
Currently, the temporary receiver continues to control the Defendants’ properties, business and finances. Working closely with the temporary receiver, the third-party operator retained by the temporary receiver continues to oversee operations and compliance at the Defendants’ 222 Sylvanie, 317 W. Florence Road, and 1421/1301 S. 11th Street facilities. Under this oversight, compliance with the 2011 CD has included the disposal of solid and hazardous waste and work on a solid waste inventory to identify wastes stored at the 222 Sylvanie facility.
The temporary receiver will submit a second report to the Court on June 30, 2022. That report will provide additional information regarding the ability of the Defendants’ assets to fund further efforts to achieve compliance with the 2011 CD.
Public Comment Period
EPA invites the community of St. Joseph to submit their comments and/or concerns regarding the status of the Defendants’ facilities. Any interested persons may submit written comments, which should be submitted to:
Kevin Snowden
EPA Region 7 (ECAD/CB/RCRA)
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Or by email at: snowden.kevin@epa.gov
The 15-day public comment period begins June 9 and ends June 23. Comments must be submitted before the end of the public comment period.
Guidelines for Commenting:
- Explain your views.
- Include your contact information.
If you have any questions, please contact EPA’s Office of Public Affairs:
Amelia Holcomb
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7 (ORA/OPA)
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7952
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: holcomb.amelia@epa.gov