Diamond v. Mobil Oil Corp.

65 Misc. 2d 75, 316 N.Y.S.2d 734, 2 ERC (BNA) 1228, 1970 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1276
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 5, 1970
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 65 Misc. 2d 75 (Diamond v. Mobil Oil Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Diamond v. Mobil Oil Corp., 65 Misc. 2d 75, 316 N.Y.S.2d 734, 2 ERC (BNA) 1228, 1970 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1276 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1970).

Opinion

Cabman F. Babb, J.

This is a motion "by the plaintiff for summary judgment pursuant to CPLR 3212 upon the ground that there was no meritorious defense or triable issue of fact as a matter of law. Plaintiff also moves for a trial preference. The defendant moves for an examination before trial, and the defendant moves to strike the note of issue.

This is an action for an injunction pursuant to section 1251 of the Public Health Law to enforce the water pollution abatement order of the Commissioner of Health, dated March 31, 1967, and to restrain the defendant from discharging untreated and inadequately treated industrial waste and other waste into the Buffalo River in contravention of the stream standards in violation of section 1220 of the Public Health Law and to recover statutory penalties for violations by the defendant of the Commissioner of Health’s order and for violations of sections 1220 and 1225 of the Public Health Law.

This action was commenced by personal service of the summons and verified complaint upon the defendant on June 17, 1970. Issue was joined on July 6, 1970. Defendant served a verified amended answer on July 20, 1970.

The defendant owns and operates a petroleum processing complex located at 635 Elk Street, Buffalo, New York, which is located on the Buffalo River, upstream from its confluence with Lake Erie.

On November 2, 1966 a notice of a hearing was served upon the defendant, which was to be held on November 28, 1966 [77]*77in Albany, New York, to determine the validity of complaints against the defendant for alleged violations of article 12 of the Public Health Law and to determine whether the defendant caused or contributed to cause a condition in contravention of the standards adopted for the Buffalo River.

Upon consent of the parties the public hearing was adjourned and on March 28, 1967 the defendant stipulated in writing: “facts exist upon which the annexed proposed order may be predicated and that such order may be made, filed and served. It is further stipulated that the right to a hearing is hereby waived.”

On March 31, 1967 the plaintiff issued an order to the defendant which directed:

‘ ‘ 1. that said stipulation be and the same is approved and the contents thereof are found, ratified and adopted.

“2. that the respondents on October 1, 1967, cease and abate and thereafter keep abated from the plant which it operates at Buffalo, New York, all discharges of industrial wastes and other wastes into the waters of the Buffalo River in contravention of the standards duly adopted and assigned to the receiving waters, unless said respondent shall:

“ A. Perform engineering studies of the existing waste treatment facilities and also studies of means of eliminating leakage from the storage tanks and delivery facilities and by October 1, 1967, submit to the New York State Department of Health final plans, in approvable form, for the construction of any and all additions and alterations of such waste treatment facilities as may appear to be necessary as a result of such studies.

‘ B. On or before July 1, 1968, respondent shall commence construction of the necessary additions and alterations to the existing waste treatment facilities in accordance with the said final construction plans.

“ C. On or before December 1, 1969, complete the construction of the said waste treatment facilities in accordance with the plans submitted as hereinbefore set forth.

“ D. Thereafter maintain and operate said waste treatment facilties in such manner that the standards of the receiving waters and the downstream waters shall not thereafter be contravened.”

Thereafter a copy of the order was duly served upon the defendant on or about April 6, 1967.

No application has been made nor has any proceeding been instituted to review the afore-mentioned order or any part [78]*78thereof, nor has any application been made to the plaintiff to reopen the administrative proceeding.

On October 4,1966, the Water Resources Commission reclassified the portion of the Buffalo River on which the defendant’s waste disposal outlets are located, from “ E ” to “ D ”, which reclassified standards were filed on October 10, 1966 in the office of the Secretary of State and published in the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York. (6 NYCRR 837.4.)

Under the Class D classification and standards, the best use is for agricultural or source of industrial cooling or process water supply (6 NYCRR 701.3). Because the waters of the Buffalo River flow into and affect the waters of the Niagara River, classified as class A Special, the quality of any waters receiving sewage, industrial or other waste discharges from the Buffalo River shall be such that there is no impairment of the best usage of the waters of the Niagara River.

Plaintiff has established that the defendant, since October 1, 1967 to the present time, has failed to cease and abate its discharges of industrial waste into the waters of the Buffalo River at and in the vicinity of its waste disposal outlets in contravention of the standards duly adopted and assigned to the receiving waters, and that the defendant has failed to submit final plans for the construction of necessary waste treatment facilities within the timetable provisions of the pollution abatement schedules set forth in the order of March 31, 1967.

The court finds, as a matter of law, upon all the proof and papers submitted, that there is no triable issue of fact, and that the plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment.

The defendant’s violation of the order of the Commissioner of Health and the Public Health Law makes it liable for statutory civil penalties under section 1250 of the Public Health Law as a matter of law.

The defendant is fined in the sum of $10,000 which is to be paid within 10 days and, if not paid within that time, a judgment may be entered without notice.

Air and water pollution have already inflicted a heavy toll on the quality of our environment. The Attorney-Greneral is to be complimented for his vigorous prosecution of this case. The defendant Mobil Oil Corporation owns and operates a long-established oil refinery at 635 Elk 'Street, Buffalo, New York, employing a large number of citizens of this community. Its products are needed and used by other businesses in this community and throughout the country. To grant an injunction [79]*79closing down Mobil’s operation would bring a large economic loss not only to the defendant but to its employees and would have an adverse economic effect on other businesses throughout the Buffalo community. This court is not aware that any other business has been subjected to such drastic action in this community. This the court would not hesitate to do if the court felt there was any immediate danger to the health of this community. The papers before me do not disclose any such immediate threat to the health of the community.

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Related

Durand v. Board of Cooperative Educational Services
70 Misc. 2d 429 (New York Supreme Court, 1972)
Diamond v. Allegheny Ludlum Industries, Inc.
67 Misc. 2d 854 (New York Supreme Court, 1971)

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Bluebook (online)
65 Misc. 2d 75, 316 N.Y.S.2d 734, 2 ERC (BNA) 1228, 1970 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1276, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/diamond-v-mobil-oil-corp-nysupct-1970.