EPA Protects Guam Water Resources with Tristar Terminals Facility Order
HÅGAT, Guam – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with Tristar Terminals Guam, Inc., over Clean Water Act violations for unauthorized discharge of oily wastewater into the Big Guatali River. This river flows into Apra Harbor.
Under the settlement, Tristar Terminals must improve oil water separation processes, perform effluent monitoring, and update their Pollution Prevention Plan to improve operations and maintenance at the petroleum storage facility in Hågat.
"Under the Clean Water Act, companies must improve their facilities to prevent oily wastewater from polluting waterways in Guam," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "This Order will stop contamination from reaching vital Guam water resources."
In 2023, an EPA and a Guam EPA inspector performed an on-site inspection of the Tristar facility and found that an unauthorized discharge of oily wastewater had reached the Big Guatali River.
EPA observed that the facility had not properly operated and maintained treatment units, including the Oil Water Separator, which led to inadequate treatment and excess oily wastewater leaving the facility.
Under the Order, Tristar has agreed to:
Upgrade and/or replace the Oil Water Separator treatment unit to meet industry design standards
Clean all treatment units of oily waste materials
Increase the height of a treatment unit berm to prevent future discharges directly into the Big Guatali River
Perform effluent monitoring of new Oil Water Separator to ensure compliance
Update Pollution Prevention Plan to improve operations and maintenance of all treatment units
Tristar Terminals Guam, Inc. owns and operates the over 200-acre facility where it receives, stores, and distributes fuels in over 20 fuel storage tanks. The facility receives, stores, and distributes gasoline, A1 jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, Number 5 residual fuel oil, and ultra-low sulfur fuel oil.
EPA's proposed settlement with Tristar Terminals Guam, Inc. addresses the violations found at the facility.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and X.
Under the settlement, Tristar Terminals must improve oil water separation processes, perform effluent monitoring, and update their Pollution Prevention Plan to improve operations and maintenance at the petroleum storage facility in Hågat.
"Under the Clean Water Act, companies must improve their facilities to prevent oily wastewater from polluting waterways in Guam," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "This Order will stop contamination from reaching vital Guam water resources."
In 2023, an EPA and a Guam EPA inspector performed an on-site inspection of the Tristar facility and found that an unauthorized discharge of oily wastewater had reached the Big Guatali River.
EPA observed that the facility had not properly operated and maintained treatment units, including the Oil Water Separator, which led to inadequate treatment and excess oily wastewater leaving the facility.
Under the Order, Tristar has agreed to:
Upgrade and/or replace the Oil Water Separator treatment unit to meet industry design standards
Clean all treatment units of oily waste materials
Increase the height of a treatment unit berm to prevent future discharges directly into the Big Guatali River
Perform effluent monitoring of new Oil Water Separator to ensure compliance
Update Pollution Prevention Plan to improve operations and maintenance of all treatment units
Tristar Terminals Guam, Inc. owns and operates the over 200-acre facility where it receives, stores, and distributes fuels in over 20 fuel storage tanks. The facility receives, stores, and distributes gasoline, A1 jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, Number 5 residual fuel oil, and ultra-low sulfur fuel oil.
EPA's proposed settlement with Tristar Terminals Guam, Inc. addresses the violations found at the facility.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and X.
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Biden-Harris Administration Partners with Electric Cooperatives to Bring Affordable Clean Energy to Rural Coloradans as Part of Investing in America Agenda
FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 17, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is making new clean energy investments in Colorado through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.
USDA Recognizes National Pollinator Week
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2024 – During the week of June 17-23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing and celebrating National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species, such as bees, other insects, birds and bats play a critical role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States.
EPA Awards $1.5 million to Support Promoting Readiness and Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data Program
WASHINGTON –Today June 17, US Environmental Protection Agency is announcing it recently awarded $1.5 million to three organizations through the Promoting Readiness and Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data (PREPARED) program. This will provide technical assistance to help enhance EPA grant recipients’ ability to generate data and information necessary to evaluate program outcomes and improve the ability to understand impacts for communities.
Currently, the agency is also seekingadditional proposals to further support and enhance the data, reporting and evidence-building capacity of EPA grant recipients representing small, underserved and Tribal communities. Data, reporting and evidence-building are vitally important elements for EPA grant programs. However, a number of EPA grant recipients face capacity challenges in engaging in these activities. Many small, underserved communities and Tribes that are eligible for EPA grants sometimes choose not to apply for funding opportunities in part because of these capacity challenges. Through PREPARED program cooperative agreements, EPA seeks to fund technical assistance providers to equip communities with strategies, tools and training that enhance their capacity for data, reporting and evidence-building.
To support these efforts, EPA recently awarded:
$500,000 to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth project will build community capacity on evidence-based approaches to advance data dissemination, reporting, and integration of lived community experiences for EPA and State Revolving Fund (Clean and Drinking Water Programs) applicants and grantees.
$500,000 to Palmetto Futures. The Palmetto Futures project will provide comprehensive capacity-building support to community-based organizations in the Gullah Geechee Corridor. Palmetto Futures’ initiative will focus on bolstering local organizations' capabilities to manage EPA projects by improving data proficiency and project reporting. Additionally, this project will conduct community engagement with organizations in the Gullah Geechee Corridor in coordination with their partner organization, the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation.
$500,000 to New Growth Innovation Network. The New Growth Innovation Network project will build individual, organizational, and collective capacity for would-be recipients of EPA funds in small, underserved, and/or Tribal Communities on data, reporting and evidence-building so that they are equipped to apply for future or current EPA grant opportunities.
More information on each awardee is available on the PREPARED website.
EPA is committed to implementing strategies designed to help small and underserved communities address data and reporting requirements for EPA grants. Consistent with longstanding agency policy for working with Tribal communities, EPA is committed to working with federally recognized Tribes in enhancing capacity to carry out program responsibilities affecting Tribal communities and the health and welfare of the populace, including capacity for data, reporting and evidence-building.
EPA intends to award up to an additional $2 million over three years to as many as four recipients. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now posted on the grants.gov website under Funding Opportunity Announcement EPA-I-R-OCFO-02. Applications are due July 29, 2024, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. More information about this funding opportunity is also available on the PREPARED website.
Currently, the agency is also seekingadditional proposals to further support and enhance the data, reporting and evidence-building capacity of EPA grant recipients representing small, underserved and Tribal communities. Data, reporting and evidence-building are vitally important elements for EPA grant programs. However, a number of EPA grant recipients face capacity challenges in engaging in these activities. Many small, underserved communities and Tribes that are eligible for EPA grants sometimes choose not to apply for funding opportunities in part because of these capacity challenges. Through PREPARED program cooperative agreements, EPA seeks to fund technical assistance providers to equip communities with strategies, tools and training that enhance their capacity for data, reporting and evidence-building.
To support these efforts, EPA recently awarded:
$500,000 to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth project will build community capacity on evidence-based approaches to advance data dissemination, reporting, and integration of lived community experiences for EPA and State Revolving Fund (Clean and Drinking Water Programs) applicants and grantees.
$500,000 to Palmetto Futures. The Palmetto Futures project will provide comprehensive capacity-building support to community-based organizations in the Gullah Geechee Corridor. Palmetto Futures’ initiative will focus on bolstering local organizations' capabilities to manage EPA projects by improving data proficiency and project reporting. Additionally, this project will conduct community engagement with organizations in the Gullah Geechee Corridor in coordination with their partner organization, the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation.
$500,000 to New Growth Innovation Network. The New Growth Innovation Network project will build individual, organizational, and collective capacity for would-be recipients of EPA funds in small, underserved, and/or Tribal Communities on data, reporting and evidence-building so that they are equipped to apply for future or current EPA grant opportunities.
More information on each awardee is available on the PREPARED website.
EPA is committed to implementing strategies designed to help small and underserved communities address data and reporting requirements for EPA grants. Consistent with longstanding agency policy for working with Tribal communities, EPA is committed to working with federally recognized Tribes in enhancing capacity to carry out program responsibilities affecting Tribal communities and the health and welfare of the populace, including capacity for data, reporting and evidence-building.
EPA intends to award up to an additional $2 million over three years to as many as four recipients. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now posted on the grants.gov website under Funding Opportunity Announcement EPA-I-R-OCFO-02. Applications are due July 29, 2024, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. More information about this funding opportunity is also available on the PREPARED website.
EPA fines Newburyport, Mass. company for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
BOSTON (June 17, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a settlement with Electronic Products Industries LLC, of Newburyport, Mass. for alleged violations of EPA's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the process hazard review (PHR) requirement of the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act.
The alleged violations stem from Electronic Products’ use of anhydrous ammonia. Electronic Products had not performed a PHR to identify hazards from its use of anhydrous ammonia and failed to timely submit Toxics Release Inventory forms for anhydrous ammonia as required, thereby depriving people of their right to know about the presence of this toxic chemical in their community. The settlement requires Electronic Products to pay a combined cash penalty of $117,647 to resolve these alleged violations.
Exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations of ammonia. Some people with asthma may be more sensitive to breathing ammonia than others.
"Citizens have a right to know about dangerous, toxic substances in their neighborhood," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "There are homes, schools, businesses, a fire station, and a church near this facility – which is less than two miles from downtown Newburyport. EPA's action underscores the importance of companies understanding the hazards of using hazardous substances like anhydrous ammonia and using that knowledge to undertake safe handling and management practices to protect public safety."
Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112(r) General Duty Clause (GDC) Violation:
The EPA alleged that Electronic Products violated CAA Section 112(r)'s GDC by failing to identify hazards related to its use of anhydrous ammonia at the Facility. Specifically, Electronic Products failed to conduct a process hazard review ("PHR") for its ammonia process. Electronic Products hired a consultant who completed a process hazard review shortly after being informed by EPA of the requirement.
The General Duty Clause aims to prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous chemicals and minimize the consequences of any such releases. Under this provision, owners and operators of facilities that store or use extremely hazardous chemicals have the duty, among others, to identify hazards that may result from a release and document this analysis in a PHR.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Violations:
The EPA alleged that Electronic Products violated EPCRA Section 313(a) and its implementing regulations by failing to timely submit TRI reporting forms for anhydrous ammonia used at the Facility in calendar years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Electronic Products promptly filed its missing TRI forms for ammonia after being informed of the deficiencies.
Under federal TRI regulations, companies that use certain listed toxic chemicals must report their releases of those chemicals each year to EPA. This information serves as the basis for the Toxic Release Inventory, which is a collection of data that can be readily reviewed by communities, government, and industry. With the information being publicly available, companies have an incentive to reduce harmful chemical use and improve their environmental performance. TRI reporting informs surrounding communities about a facility's toxic chemicals that could potentially harm public health and the environment and offers transparency.
Electronic Products produces both glass-to-metal seals and high-temperature co-fired ceramics for use in semiconductor products. This case stems from information learned about the facility in conjunction with an inspection by EPA in February 2023. Electronic Products cooperated with the EPA throughout the enforcement process and quickly came into compliance with the relevant statutes following EPA's inspection.
For more information visit:
Toxics Release Inventory Program: https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program.
EPCRA: https://www.epa.gov/epcra.
General Duty Clause: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/general-duty-clause-under-clean-air-act-section-112r1.
The alleged violations stem from Electronic Products’ use of anhydrous ammonia. Electronic Products had not performed a PHR to identify hazards from its use of anhydrous ammonia and failed to timely submit Toxics Release Inventory forms for anhydrous ammonia as required, thereby depriving people of their right to know about the presence of this toxic chemical in their community. The settlement requires Electronic Products to pay a combined cash penalty of $117,647 to resolve these alleged violations.
Exposure to high levels of ammonia in air may be irritating to skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations of ammonia. Some people with asthma may be more sensitive to breathing ammonia than others.
"Citizens have a right to know about dangerous, toxic substances in their neighborhood," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "There are homes, schools, businesses, a fire station, and a church near this facility – which is less than two miles from downtown Newburyport. EPA's action underscores the importance of companies understanding the hazards of using hazardous substances like anhydrous ammonia and using that knowledge to undertake safe handling and management practices to protect public safety."
Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112(r) General Duty Clause (GDC) Violation:
The EPA alleged that Electronic Products violated CAA Section 112(r)'s GDC by failing to identify hazards related to its use of anhydrous ammonia at the Facility. Specifically, Electronic Products failed to conduct a process hazard review ("PHR") for its ammonia process. Electronic Products hired a consultant who completed a process hazard review shortly after being informed by EPA of the requirement.
The General Duty Clause aims to prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous chemicals and minimize the consequences of any such releases. Under this provision, owners and operators of facilities that store or use extremely hazardous chemicals have the duty, among others, to identify hazards that may result from a release and document this analysis in a PHR.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Violations:
The EPA alleged that Electronic Products violated EPCRA Section 313(a) and its implementing regulations by failing to timely submit TRI reporting forms for anhydrous ammonia used at the Facility in calendar years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Electronic Products promptly filed its missing TRI forms for ammonia after being informed of the deficiencies.
Under federal TRI regulations, companies that use certain listed toxic chemicals must report their releases of those chemicals each year to EPA. This information serves as the basis for the Toxic Release Inventory, which is a collection of data that can be readily reviewed by communities, government, and industry. With the information being publicly available, companies have an incentive to reduce harmful chemical use and improve their environmental performance. TRI reporting informs surrounding communities about a facility's toxic chemicals that could potentially harm public health and the environment and offers transparency.
Electronic Products produces both glass-to-metal seals and high-temperature co-fired ceramics for use in semiconductor products. This case stems from information learned about the facility in conjunction with an inspection by EPA in February 2023. Electronic Products cooperated with the EPA throughout the enforcement process and quickly came into compliance with the relevant statutes following EPA's inspection.
For more information visit:
Toxics Release Inventory Program: https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program.
EPCRA: https://www.epa.gov/epcra.
General Duty Clause: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/general-duty-clause-under-clean-air-act-section-112r1.