EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 2/5

US businesses are subject to complex, overlapping environmental regulations related to air emissions, discharges to water, hazardous waste management and disposal, oil spills, chemical management, and more. Failure to comply with all applicable US EPA requirements can result in future liability and civil penalties as high as $100,000+ per day, per violation.

The EPA Enforcement Roundup highlights enforcement actions that offer insight into how and why US EPA and state partners assess penalties for noncompliance for environmental regulations.

All violations or claims discussed below are alleged only unless we say otherwise, and we withhold the names of organizations and individuals to protect their privacy.

Your EPA Enforcement Roundup for this week:

A manufacturer in Omaha resolves alleged Clean Air and EPCRA violations following a 650,000-pound chemical release.

To resolve allegations of noncompliance, a manufacturer of specialized concrete construction products in Omaha, Nebraska will pay a $37,026 civil penalty and install a foam-deluge fire suppression system at an estimated cost of $244,000.

EPA inspected the facility after a fire resulted in the release of over 325 tons of chemicals, including 20 tons of extremely hazardous substances (EHSs). Over 2,000 residents were evacuated.

Officials allege that the company failed to:

• Identify hazards that may result from releases of hazardous substances.
• Minimize the consequences of the release prior to and after the fire.
• Immediately notify EPA and local authorities of a reportable release. 
• Report the use and storage of two hazardous substances for emergency planning.

Oil companies agree to a $7.4M penalty to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations stemming from a pipeline spill.

Two Dallas-based oil companies agreed to pay $7.4M to resolve allegations of Clean Water Act violations. Claims are related to a pipeline spill in Oklahoma. that "dumped more than 300,000 gallons of crude oil, contaminating Skull Creek," according to US EPA. 

The companies have agreed to clean up and remediate the impacted area, improve their pipeline integrity management program, provide additional training for all their control room operators, and expand their spill notification efforts.

EPA settles with retail parent company and its subsidiaries over alleged FIFRA violations.

The companies agreed to a $663,081 penalty as part of a settlement to resolve alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The Agency claims that these companies distributed or sold unregistered disinfectants, purported antimicrobials, and other products. Sale of such unregistered products is prohibited under FIFRA.

Complete Environmental Regulations Training

Want a clearer idea of how major EPA air, water, and chemical programs all fit together to affect your site's activities? Join in on the next Complete Environmental Regulations Webinar on March 14–15 at Lion.com.

EH&S professionals who attend can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, Superfund, and more. Prefer to train at your own pace? Try the interactive online course.

Tags: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, EPA Enforcement Roundup, EPCRA, FIFRA