Flexsteel Industries Inc. has agreed to pay $9.8 million for the cleanup of contamination at the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site in Elkhart, Indiana.
According to the complaint filed simultaneously with the proposed consent decree in the Northern District of Indiana, Flexsteel is liable for the cleanup because its former manufacturing operations contributed to contamination at the Lane Street Site.
Previously, EPA entered into administrative settlements with two other potentially responsible parties for their alleged contributions to the contamination at the Lane Street Site.
“This settlement ensures that the responsible party and not the taxpayers fund the cleanup of the Lane Street Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The cleanup funded by this agreement protects the environment and the health of the surrounding community.”
The Lane Street Site consists of approximately 65 acres of residential and light industrial properties in Elkhart, Indiana, impacted by a groundwater plume contaminated primarily with solvents and degreasers such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene.
The proposed consent decree funds implementation of the selected remedy, which was issued by EPA in 2016. The remedy involves breaking down the contamination into harmless compounds.
The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval and will be available for public review on the US Department of Justice website at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
More information about the Site is available on the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination website (https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0510229).
Defendant: Flexsteel Industries Inc.
Criminal Charges: Environmental Cleanup
City and State: Elkhart, Indiana
Exact Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: $9.8 million for cleanup
Dollar Amount: $9.8 million
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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