Search

EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 5/23

Posted on 5/23/2022 by Lauren Scott

Industrial facilities in the United States are subject to complex, overlapping environmental regulations concerning 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 (and growing every year).

The EPA enforcement actions highlighted below provide insight into how and why the Agency assesses civil penalties for environmental noncompliance. All violations mentioned are alleged unless we indicate otherwise.

We withhold the names of organizations and individuals subject to enforcement to protect their privacy.
 

WHO: A steel production plant
WHERE: Braddock, PA
WHAT: Clean Air Act violations
HOW MUCH: $1.5 million plus a $750,000 Supplemental Environmental Project

A steel company agreed to pay a seven-figure civil penalty and make extensive improvements as part of a settlement for alleged longstanding air pollution violations. EPA cited concerns of particulate matter, especially particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5), dating as far back as 2016. PM2.5 pose a significant risk to health, particularly respiratory health.

In addition, the company will provide $750,000 in funding to the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development towards the creation of a multimodal connection trail for hikers and bicyclists that links the Great Allegheny Passage in Rankin Borough to the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in Trafford Borough through the Turtle Creek Valley.
 

WHO: A meatpacking facility
WHERE: Vernon, CA
WHAT: Risk Management Plan violations
HOW MUCH: $237,537

On September 21, 2017, EPA inspected an animal slaughtering and meat processing facility and found violations of the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program requirements. The alleged violations include failure to identify emergency exhaust pipe and pressure valve hazards, failure to repair a malfunctioning ammonia sensor, and failure to maintain sufficient safety information for the facility’s alarms and process equipment.

As part of the agreement, the meat processor repaired damaged refrigeration equipment, added safety signage and labeling, and improved emergency ventilation systems to ensure the public and first responders are protected from potentially dangerous chemicals.
 

WHO: An ice supplier
WHERE: New Bedford, MA
WHAT: Risk Management Plan violations
HOW MUCH: $170,000

Following a 2018 anhydrous ammonia release, EPA discovered multiple Risk Management Plan violations at an ice production facility, such as failure to compile required written process safety information and failure to fully comply with process hazard analysis requirements. EPA also found the facility failed to properly train employees, which helps ensure workers and emergency responders have the information they need to safely respond to an accidental release.

Companies that rely on cooling processes often use anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant, but it can be very dangerous when released into the environment. In its gaseous form, it is flammable and combustible. The Clean Air Act requires that companies storing over 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia must submit a risk management plan.
 

Convenient, Effective Online EHS Manager Training

Managing site compliance with the many complex EPA programs that affect your business—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to TSCA, EPCRA, CERCLA, and more—is a major challenge. If you’re new to the field or need an update on changing EPA rules, online training is a convenient way to quickly build in-depth expertise.

Check out the latest EPA compliance training options here:
 
Complete Environmental Regulations
Clean Air Act Regulations Online
TSCA Regulations Online
Clean Water Act & SDWA Regulations Online
Superfund and Right-to-Know Act Regulations Online 

Tags: chemical management, Clean Air Act, EPA, EPA Enforcement Roundup, Risk Management Plan, roundup

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion courses always set the bar for content, reference, and practical application. Membership and access to the experts is an added bonus.

John Brown, CSP

Director of Safety & Env Affairs

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

Excellent course. Very interactive. Explanations are great whether you get the questions wrong or right.

Gregory Thompson

Environmental, Health & Safety Regional Manager

Given the choice, I would do all coursework this way. In-person courses go very fast without the opportunity to pause or repeat anything.

Ellen Pelton

Chemical Laboratory Manager

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

The price was reasonable, the time to complete the course was manageable, and the flexibility the online training allowed made it easy to complete.

Felicia Rutledge

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

My experience with Lion training, both online and in the classroom, is that they are far better organized and provide a better sequential explanation of the material.

Robert Roose

Manager, Dangerous Goods Transportation

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

The instructor was excellent. They knew all of the material without having to read from a notepad or computer.

Gary Hartzell

Warehouse Supervisor

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Use this guide to spot which tanks and substances are regulated under EPA's Underground Storage Tank program, and which are excluded as of October 2018.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.