Current and former owners of the defunct Chicago Musical Instruments manufacturing facility in Fullerton will pay about $2 million to the state in a deal unveiled today. The site is nearly eight acres.
United Duralume Products Inc., the current owner, owes $1.1 million. Prior owners, Pitney Bowes Inc., and Novitex Enterprise Solutions, Inc., will pay more than $800,000 and must pay all related future costs incurred by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the department said in a press release.
The settlement is for current and future costs related to the department’s investigation and remediation efforts at the site. Operations at the site resulted in contamination of the soil and groundwater, the department said.
Chicago Musical Instruments had built several concrete spaces, or sumps, for degreasing as part of its manufacturing process. The company no longer exists so the department could not pursue legal action against it for remediation costs associated with the groundwater contamination.
United Duralume Products became the site owner in 1979 and operated machinery that bends aluminum sheeting for products, such as siding and patio covers. It filled the sumps and capped them with concrete so the sumps would not interfere with their operations,
This resulted in contamination of the soil and groundwater by “volatile organic compounds,” the department said.
The department has overseen the site’s investigation and remediation since 2010. It’s now working with the Orange County Water District to address the groundwater contamination that has moved beyond the site’s boundaries.
