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*M£4 * UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY <£~" PRO*- . NEW YORK. NEW YORK 1O27B-OO12 •V REGION II <~ttl6? ' JACOB K. JAVITS FEDERAL BUILDING JUN1 81993 —EXPRESS MAIL— RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Katharine Harsch Attorney for Siegfried & Waltrand Torinus Bornn Bornn Handy & Rashid P.O. Box 1500 St. Thomas, USVI 00804 Re: Tutu Wells Site St. Thomas. U.S. Virgin Islands Notice of Potential Liability of Siegfried & Waltrand Torinus Pursuant to CERCLA. 42 U.S.C. $9601 et sea. Dear Ms. Harsch: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is charged with responding to the release or threatened release of hazardous sub- stances, pollutants and contaminants into the environment and with enforcement responsibilities under the Comprehensive Envi- ronmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended ("CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C. SS9601-9675. EPA has documented the release and threatened release of hazardous substances and petroleum into the environment at the Tutu Wells Site, which is located in the upper Turpentine Run basin in the vicinity of Anna's Retreat in the east central section of St. Thomas. Hazardous substances, including, but not limited to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene ("BTEX"), 1,2- dichloroethene, vinyl chloride, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene and terbutylmethylether ("TBME") have been detected in groundwater, soil samples and supply wells in the vicinity of the upper Turpentine Run basin. Under CERCLA and other laws, responsible parties may be held liable for monies expended by the federal government in taking response actions at and around sites where hazardous substances have been released, including investigative, planning, removal, remedial and enforcement actions. Responsible parties also may be subject to orders requiring them to take response actions themselves. Responsible parties under CERCLA include, among others, the current and past owners or operators of the facility from which there has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER *64464* 64464 In response to releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances into the environment at the Site, EPA has spent public funds and expects to expend additional public funds. To date, response actions taken by EPA with regard to the Site include, but are not limited to, removal actions initiated by EPA, oversight of the performance of the removal action and remedial investigation/feasibility study ("RI/FS") conducted by the Tutu Environmental Investigation Committee ("TEIC"). These actions have been and will be undertaken pursuant to CERCLA. By this letter, we notify Siegfried and Waltrand Torinus that we have reason to believe that they are the property owners of a facility at which there has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances which has caused EPA to incur response costs. We also have reason to believe that they were the owners of such a facility at the time of the disposal of hazardous substances there. Accordingly, they are potentially responsible parties ("PRP") under Section 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. §9607(a). Currently, the TEIC is performing a remedial investigation/ feasibility study in the area under an Administrative Order with EPA, which is scheduled to be completed in the Winter of 1994. Pursuant to the preliminary findings during the performance of this RI/FS for the Tutu Wells Site, we believe that a "remedial" action (as defined in Section 101(24) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. §9601(24)) and "corrective action" (as set forth in Section 9003(b) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. §6991b), may be necessary at the Site These actions would address, among other things, groundwater and soils at your facility which may be contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum. Please indicate whether Siegfried and Waltrand Torinus are interested in cooperating in future activities involved with this Site, in writing, by June 25, 1993 to: Andrew L. Praschak Office of Regional Counsel U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Caribbean Field Office 1413 Fernandez Juncos Avenue Santurce, PR 00909 A copy of this correspondence should also be sent to the Project Manager at the following address: Caroline Kwan Emergency & Remedial Response Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 26 Federal Plaza Room 737 New York, NY 10278 Those parties who indicate, in writing, that they are interested in participating in future activities at the Site are invited to attend an organizational meeting with the other parties as well as EPA and the Virgin Island Department of Natural Resources on July 8 at 10 am at the Nisky Center in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Your letter should indicate whether you intend to attend this meeting and who will be present to represent Siegfried and Waltrand Torinus at this meeting. If you have any questions about this letter or the July meeting call Caroline Kwan at (212) 264-0151. Legal questions should be referred to Andrew Praschak at (809) 729-6951. Sincerely yours, A jGeorge Pavlou, Acting Director i~SEmergency and Remedial Response Division cc: Andrew Praschak, EPA-CFO Leonard Reed, DPNR Larry Spivack, DPNR