FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         ENR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1997                       (202) 514-2008
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
       FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TAKE ACTION TO
            PROTECT ALBUQUERQUE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

      WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a cooperative effort to protect
drinking water in Albuquerque, the United States today sued
Sparton Technology Inc., alleging the company polluted
groundwater in the region, threatening the City's water supply. 
The government's lawsuit seeks a court order requiring Sparton to
stop the spread of the contamination and clean it up.

     The lawsuit, filed today in U.S. District Court in
Albuquerque, was brought by the United States Department of
Justice and the U.S. Attorneys office, on behalf of the
Environmental Protection Agency.  Similar lawsuits were filed
today by the State of New Mexico, Bernalillo County, and the City
of Albuquerque.

     According to the lawsuit, Sparton Technology violated
federal environmental laws, including the Safe Drinking Water
Act, by contaminating part of the Santa Fe Group aquifer system,
Albuquerque's only source of drinking water.  It further alleges
that the contamination was caused by hazardous wastes generated
by an electronic circuit board manufacturing facility on Coors
Road that Sparton operated from 1961 through 1994.

     "The Department of Justice will pursue this case vigorously
to ensure that Albuquerque's drinking water supply remains clean
and safe," said Lois Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General in
charge of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural
Resources Division.  "With federal, state and local authorities
working together, we are optimistic that we can convince the
court to help us protect this precious drinking water resource
for future generations."

     U.S. Attorney John J. Kelly said, "Our office looks forward
to working closely with the City and State to resolve the problem
and assure that the responsible party pays the cost."

          Steve Herman, EPA Assistant Administrator for
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said "Every American is
entitled to an adequate supply of safe drinking water.  Today's
action shows how federal, state and local governments are working
together to protect the public health of the citizens of
Albuquerque, by stopping groundwater contamination before it
affects the City's drinking water supply."

          Sam Coleman, Director of the Compliance Assurance and
Enforcement Division for EPA Region 6, said "The U.S. Department
of Justice, the State of New Mexico, the City of Albuquerque, and
Bernalillo County, in partnership with EPA, are working together
to address this serious problem." 

     Studies conducted by Sparton show that the contaminants have
spread at least one-half mile from the facility and are moving in
a northwesterly direction, extending at least 70 feet below the
ground water layer.  Commercial and residential developments are
within the immediate vicinity of the Sparton facility. 
 
     High levels of contaminants have been discovered on and off
the Coors Road facility, exceeding federal and state standards. 
Contamination levels in the groundwater outside of the Sparton
facility are more than 400 times the level allowed by federal
safe drinking water standards.  The City's existing water supply
wells are currently unaffected by the contamination, and the
water is safe to drink at this time.

     Last September, EPA issued an administrative order requiring
Sparton to halt the spread of the contamination and restore the
groundwater to drinking water standards, including installing and
operating groundwater extraction wells and treating and disposing
of the water pumped from the wells.  Because Sparton has failed
to comply with the EPA order, the United States was compelled to
take judicial action today.   
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97-073