On October 15, 2012, EPA entered into an Administrative Settlement and Order on Consent for Removal Response Action, EPA Docket No. CERC-03-2013-0010 DC (AOC), with Columbus Avenue LLC (Columbus Avenue) pursuant to Sections 106(a) and 122(a) of CERCLA, in connection with the HERC Site (Site). The Site, located in Portsmouth, Virginia, is the former location of a tank and pipe cleaning operation. Columbus Avenue is the owner of the Site.
A warehouse fire at the Site on August 24, 2012, resulted in a large acid spill, to which EPA initially responded. Pursuant to the AOC, Columbus Avenue has agreed, among other things, to remove and dispose offsite hazardous substances resulting from and/or affected by the fire, maintain Site security, and provide for post-removal Site control activities.