Tuna Producer Caught in EPA Enforcement Net

Sorry, Charlie! A major canned tuna fish producer will now pay more than $6,000,000 to resolve alleged violations of wastewater permitting, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act chemical storage requirements.

In addition to paying the $6.3 million civil penalty, the company must make facility upgrades and donate at least $88,000 worth of emergency response equipment to help a local fire department respond to chemical releases.

According to the Consent Decree filed this week in a Pittsburgh, PA district court, the company discharged pollutants—nitrogen, phosphorus, oil, grease, and total suspended solids (TSS)—at volumes above permitted levels. The unauthorized discharges occurred due to a change in the composition of the facility’s wastewater that rendered its current treatment process inadequate.

The tuna maker also allegedly failed to properly store refrigerants covered under the Clean Air Act and self-reported RCRA hazardous waste violations to EPA.
 
In addition to the civil penalty and the donation of emergencey response equipment, the company will upgrade the secondary containment around four oil storage tanks.

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Tags: Act, Air, Clean, Clean Water Act, EPA, fines and penalties, RCRA