EPA Settlement with Slack Chemical Company in New York Resolves Violations of Toxic Chemical Reporting Requirements
EPA Settlement with Slack Chemical Company in New York Resolves Violations of Toxic Chemical Reporting Requirements
NEW YORK - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Slack Chemical Company Inc. to resolve alleged violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) at the company’s facilities in Carthage and Saratoga Springs, New York. The settlement includes a $231,300 civil penalty.
"EPA is working to ensure that regulated facilities comply with the “Right to Know” requirements to ensure companies properly report their storage, use, and releases of certain chemicals to federal, state, tribal, territorial and local governments,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "These reporting requirements are important because they are used to help communities prepare for and protect against potential risks posed by potentially dangerous chemicals.”
Slack Chemical Company, Inc. is a supplier of bulk chemicals. The company stores, repackages, and distributes bulk chemicals to municipalities and industry across the Northeast from three New York facilities using a substantial delivery fleet of tractor trailers.
According to EPA, the company failed to properly submit forms required by EPA and New York State with information about how much ammonia, methanol, nitric acid, and toluene were managed at and released from the company’s facilities during 2019 and 2021.
Under the terms of the consent agreement and final order with EPA, Slack has voluntarily instituted a corporate compliance plan to prevent recurrence of EPCRA reporting violations. For example, to improve compliance, the company will add a written procedure detailing the steps required to identify Toxic Release Inventory chemicals, calculating reportable quantities and subsequent submittal.
EPCRA increases the public's knowledge and access to information about chemicals at certain regulated facilities which must report on the identity of their chemicals, quantities of chemical releases into the environment, and waste management activities. States and communities, working with facilities, can use the information to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.
For more information about EPA’s enforcement program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/basic-information-enforcement
For more information about EPCRA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/epcra
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter now known as X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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NEW YORK - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Slack Chemical Company Inc. to resolve alleged violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) at the company’s facilities in Carthage and Saratoga Springs, New York. The settlement includes a $231,300 civil penalty.
"EPA is working to ensure that regulated facilities comply with the “Right to Know” requirements to ensure companies properly report their storage, use, and releases of certain chemicals to federal, state, tribal, territorial and local governments,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "These reporting requirements are important because they are used to help communities prepare for and protect against potential risks posed by potentially dangerous chemicals.”
Slack Chemical Company, Inc. is a supplier of bulk chemicals. The company stores, repackages, and distributes bulk chemicals to municipalities and industry across the Northeast from three New York facilities using a substantial delivery fleet of tractor trailers.
According to EPA, the company failed to properly submit forms required by EPA and New York State with information about how much ammonia, methanol, nitric acid, and toluene were managed at and released from the company’s facilities during 2019 and 2021.
Under the terms of the consent agreement and final order with EPA, Slack has voluntarily instituted a corporate compliance plan to prevent recurrence of EPCRA reporting violations. For example, to improve compliance, the company will add a written procedure detailing the steps required to identify Toxic Release Inventory chemicals, calculating reportable quantities and subsequent submittal.
EPCRA increases the public's knowledge and access to information about chemicals at certain regulated facilities which must report on the identity of their chemicals, quantities of chemical releases into the environment, and waste management activities. States and communities, working with facilities, can use the information to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.
For more information about EPA’s enforcement program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/basic-information-enforcement
For more information about EPCRA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/epcra
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter now known as X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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Montreal port gets federal funds for mega-terminal after operators balk at risk
The Montreal Port Authority said the funding will allow it to “implement a new delivery model” for the Contrecoeur terminal project after talks with initial bidders did not lead to a “satisfactory” result.
US retailers downgrade import forecast through January amid sufficient inventories
With retailers shipping early this year and showing caution in placing orders with Asian factories for holiday merchandise, a major retail group has lowered its forecast for US imports in the coming months.
Ex-Tiger Cool executives take second stab at Washington state reefer ramp
Tri-Cities Intermodal said it will revive plans to refurbish a cold storage warehouse and rail ramp served by Union Pacific’s intermodal service.
EPA Announces $330M WIFIA Loan to Reduce Air Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Missouri
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 10, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan totaling $330 million to the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD Project Clear) in Missouri. This funding will help reduce air emissions by 90%, support energy efficiency, and meet regulatory compliance by constructing new biosolids processing facilities.
Since its creation, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced $19 billion in financing to support 112 projects, totaling over $40 billion, that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 60,000 jobs nationwide.
“This loan will have profound impacts on both the environment and the economy in the St. Louis region,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “Through MSD Project Clear’s efforts, neighboring communities will experience substantially reduced air and odor emissions, as well as increased job opportunities in the region.”
The MSD Project Clear Solids Management Upgrades project will reduce air emissions and ensure continued compliance with regulations. While MSD Project Clear’s existing biosolids treatment facilities, built in the 1970s, continue to meet or exceed all air quality standards, they rely on outdated technology. With EPA’s WIFIA loan, newly constructed biosolids processing facilities will have emissions controls that drastically reduce pollutants and air emissions by 90% using modern, energy efficient equipment that requires less fuel to operate. MSD Project Clear will also construct odor control systems to reduce the impact of unpleasant smells on neighboring communities with environmental justice concerns.
“The Solids Management Upgrades project is about more than infrastructure improvements – it’s a long-term investment in the health and well-being of our community,” said Brian Hoelscher, MSD Project Clear executive director and CEO. “WIFIA’s cost-effective loans are one way we are able to complete these vital improvements while upholding our commitment to be good stewards of public funds.”
MSD Project Clear will save approximately $86 million by financing with a WIFIA loan. Investing in their infrastructure will create approximately 3,000 jobs.Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA program and water infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.EPA recently made the seventh round of WIFIA financing available and is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans, with $6.5 billion available through WIFIA and $1 billion available through SWIFIA, which is a loan program exclusively for state infrastructure financing authority borrowers. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan.In addition to WIFIA loans, many federal funding resources are available for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. It provides a historic $50 billion investment in upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
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Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
Since its creation, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced $19 billion in financing to support 112 projects, totaling over $40 billion, that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 60,000 jobs nationwide.
“This loan will have profound impacts on both the environment and the economy in the St. Louis region,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “Through MSD Project Clear’s efforts, neighboring communities will experience substantially reduced air and odor emissions, as well as increased job opportunities in the region.”
The MSD Project Clear Solids Management Upgrades project will reduce air emissions and ensure continued compliance with regulations. While MSD Project Clear’s existing biosolids treatment facilities, built in the 1970s, continue to meet or exceed all air quality standards, they rely on outdated technology. With EPA’s WIFIA loan, newly constructed biosolids processing facilities will have emissions controls that drastically reduce pollutants and air emissions by 90% using modern, energy efficient equipment that requires less fuel to operate. MSD Project Clear will also construct odor control systems to reduce the impact of unpleasant smells on neighboring communities with environmental justice concerns.
“The Solids Management Upgrades project is about more than infrastructure improvements – it’s a long-term investment in the health and well-being of our community,” said Brian Hoelscher, MSD Project Clear executive director and CEO. “WIFIA’s cost-effective loans are one way we are able to complete these vital improvements while upholding our commitment to be good stewards of public funds.”
MSD Project Clear will save approximately $86 million by financing with a WIFIA loan. Investing in their infrastructure will create approximately 3,000 jobs.Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA program and water infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.EPA recently made the seventh round of WIFIA financing available and is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans, with $6.5 billion available through WIFIA and $1 billion available through SWIFIA, which is a loan program exclusively for state infrastructure financing authority borrowers. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan.In addition to WIFIA loans, many federal funding resources are available for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. It provides a historic $50 billion investment in upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
$30M BIL investment advances Superfund cleanup on Atlanta’s Westside and free EPA job training provides skills, job opportunities for 20 local residents
ATLANTA (October 10, 2023) – Federal, state and local officials gathered in Atlanta’s Westside last Thursday evening to recognize two milestones in the cleanup of the Westside Lead Superfund Site. Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is being invested to support the Westside cleanup. Additionally, 20 Atlanta area residents graduated from the EPA’s Superfund Job Training Initiative or “SuperJTI.” Some graduates will fill available jobs with environmental contractors cleaning up contamination at the Westside Lead Superfund Site.
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have the largest long-term environmental investment in infrastructure and the economy in our nation’s history. Here in the Westside, the BIL funds will be used to excavate and safely dispose of lead-contaminated soil at residential properties, including places where vulnerable children live and play, to protect residents,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “Our goal in the communities we serve is to collaborate early and encourage meaningful participation during Superfund cleanups, and I am thrilled to also recognize the 20 Westside Lead Site SuperJTI graduates, some of whom have already secured jobs in the environmental remediation field.”
“I am thrilled to see Georgians continuing to benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This latest news at Westside Lead Superfund site is a testament to the good we can accomplish when we come together to center the people in our policymaking,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As a preacher and a public servant, I believe we are called to be good stewards of our planet and its resources, so I will continue to work to deliver more investments to Georgia that will promote healthier communities. And I look forward to seeing the great work the graduates of the Superfund Job Training Initiative do in Georgia and across the country to protect our environment and serve our communities.”
“The Georgia Environmental Protection Division appreciates the work done by our federal partners to address the Westside Lead site,” said GAEPD Director Jeff Cown. “As the site transitions from response action to remedial action, GAEPD will continue to work with the EPA to ensure that lead contaminated soils are remediated to safe levels.”
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investment
The Biden-Harris Administration set out to deliver a once-in-a-generation investment to improve our nation’s infrastructure, which includes cleaning up contaminated sites and investing in communities that are often overlooked. Through this investing in America agenda, a total of $3.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds are being invested nationally to clean up priority hazardous waste sites. These funds also support our Justice40 initiative, which aims to provide 40% of the overall benefits from federal resources to disadvantaged or overburdened communities.
The Westside site is one of just 49 sites selected across the country to receive Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for immediate cleanup work. The funds will be used to continue to sample and clean up lead contamination from old foundry waste in people’s yards and protect the health and safety of Westside residents, especially young children who are most vulnerable to this contamination.
There are 2,097 properties in the study area and 1,251 properties have been sampled thus far. Of those, 528 had lead in soil above the 400 mg/kg threshold for cleanup and cleanup activities have been completed at 229 properties.
The EPA continues to seek permission from property owners and tenants the Westside to perform free sampling of their yards. Residents can use the interactive mapping tool on EPA’s website to see if their property is in the study area. Access forms for the sampling are also posted online.
SuperJTI
SuperJTI is a national program that provides unemployed and underemployed individuals with the technical skills and specialized training needed to work on cleanup projects at Superfund sites, on other environmental remediation, and in a broad range of construction projects. The Westside Lead SuperJTI graduate earned certificates in:
Lead-Based Paint Worker Certification
40-hr Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
OSHA-10 Construction Safety Training
CPR/First Aid
More information about the Westside Lead Superfund Site: www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead
More information about SuperJTI: www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-job-training-initiative
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have the largest long-term environmental investment in infrastructure and the economy in our nation’s history. Here in the Westside, the BIL funds will be used to excavate and safely dispose of lead-contaminated soil at residential properties, including places where vulnerable children live and play, to protect residents,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “Our goal in the communities we serve is to collaborate early and encourage meaningful participation during Superfund cleanups, and I am thrilled to also recognize the 20 Westside Lead Site SuperJTI graduates, some of whom have already secured jobs in the environmental remediation field.”
“I am thrilled to see Georgians continuing to benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This latest news at Westside Lead Superfund site is a testament to the good we can accomplish when we come together to center the people in our policymaking,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As a preacher and a public servant, I believe we are called to be good stewards of our planet and its resources, so I will continue to work to deliver more investments to Georgia that will promote healthier communities. And I look forward to seeing the great work the graduates of the Superfund Job Training Initiative do in Georgia and across the country to protect our environment and serve our communities.”
“The Georgia Environmental Protection Division appreciates the work done by our federal partners to address the Westside Lead site,” said GAEPD Director Jeff Cown. “As the site transitions from response action to remedial action, GAEPD will continue to work with the EPA to ensure that lead contaminated soils are remediated to safe levels.”
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investment
The Biden-Harris Administration set out to deliver a once-in-a-generation investment to improve our nation’s infrastructure, which includes cleaning up contaminated sites and investing in communities that are often overlooked. Through this investing in America agenda, a total of $3.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds are being invested nationally to clean up priority hazardous waste sites. These funds also support our Justice40 initiative, which aims to provide 40% of the overall benefits from federal resources to disadvantaged or overburdened communities.
The Westside site is one of just 49 sites selected across the country to receive Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for immediate cleanup work. The funds will be used to continue to sample and clean up lead contamination from old foundry waste in people’s yards and protect the health and safety of Westside residents, especially young children who are most vulnerable to this contamination.
There are 2,097 properties in the study area and 1,251 properties have been sampled thus far. Of those, 528 had lead in soil above the 400 mg/kg threshold for cleanup and cleanup activities have been completed at 229 properties.
The EPA continues to seek permission from property owners and tenants the Westside to perform free sampling of their yards. Residents can use the interactive mapping tool on EPA’s website to see if their property is in the study area. Access forms for the sampling are also posted online.
SuperJTI
SuperJTI is a national program that provides unemployed and underemployed individuals with the technical skills and specialized training needed to work on cleanup projects at Superfund sites, on other environmental remediation, and in a broad range of construction projects. The Westside Lead SuperJTI graduate earned certificates in:
Lead-Based Paint Worker Certification
40-hr Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
OSHA-10 Construction Safety Training
CPR/First Aid
More information about the Westside Lead Superfund Site: www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead
More information about SuperJTI: www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-job-training-initiative
EPA Announces Selection of Charter Members to the Science Advisory Board and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan announced his selections for membership of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). The well-qualified experts selected by Administrator Regan bring a cross-selection of scientific disciplines and the experience needed to provide sound scientific advice to EPA leadership to help advance the agency’s mission.
“Everything we do at EPA must be grounded in the latest and best available science, adhering to the highest standard of scientific integrity,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Science Advisory Board and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee will ensure that EPA continues to receive sound, independent science-based advice. I want to thank those members leaving SAB and CASAC for their outstanding service and welcome the newest members that will apply their widely-respected and trusted expertise to our work to protect public health and our environment.”
The membership solicitation process resulted in 115 nominations for the SAB and eight CASAC nominations to fill the required slot for a member representing State air pollution control agencies. All candidates were evaluated by the Science Advisory Board Staff Office (SABSO) and recommendations were given by SABSO to the Administrator for him to consider for his selections.
EPA also announced today that Dr. Kimberly L. Jones, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard University, has been named chair of the Science Advisory Board. Dr. Jones is the first African-American Chair and first Chair to represent a historically black college or university.
“We were fortunate to have an outstanding group of nominees this year, resulting in the selection of high-caliber scientist and technical experts to join the SAB and CASAC,” said Thomas Brennan, Director of the SABSO.
New SAB Members
Chair of the SAB
Dr. Kimberly L. Jones - Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard University.
SAB Members with Dual Appointments to the Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee
Dr. John DiGiovanni - Professor in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently holds the Coulter R. Sublett Endowed Chair in Pharmacy. In addition, Dr. DiGiovanni is Director of the Center for Molecular Carcinogenesis and Toxicology and Associate Director for Basic Research in the LiveSTRONG Cancer Institute, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Rebecca Fry - Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Dr. Fry is also the Carol Remmer Angle Distinguished Professor in Children’s Environmental Health.
Dr. Douglas C. Wolf, D.V.M, Ph.D. - Senior Fellow, Syngenta
SAB Member with Dual Appointment to the Economic Analysis Committee
Dr. Maximilian Auffhammer - George Pardee Jr. Professor of International Sustainable Development, the Regional Associate Dean in the College of Letters and Science, and the Vice-Chair of the Academic Senate at UC Berkeley.
SAB Member with Dual Appointment to the Environmental Justice Science Committee
Dr. Veronica J. Berrocal - Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of California Irvine (UCI).
Additional SAB Member
Dr. Yiliang Zhu - Professor and Chief in the Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine University of New Mexico School of Medicine.
New CASAC Member
Mr. Henry (Dirk) Felton - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
“Everything we do at EPA must be grounded in the latest and best available science, adhering to the highest standard of scientific integrity,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Science Advisory Board and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee will ensure that EPA continues to receive sound, independent science-based advice. I want to thank those members leaving SAB and CASAC for their outstanding service and welcome the newest members that will apply their widely-respected and trusted expertise to our work to protect public health and our environment.”
The membership solicitation process resulted in 115 nominations for the SAB and eight CASAC nominations to fill the required slot for a member representing State air pollution control agencies. All candidates were evaluated by the Science Advisory Board Staff Office (SABSO) and recommendations were given by SABSO to the Administrator for him to consider for his selections.
EPA also announced today that Dr. Kimberly L. Jones, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard University, has been named chair of the Science Advisory Board. Dr. Jones is the first African-American Chair and first Chair to represent a historically black college or university.
“We were fortunate to have an outstanding group of nominees this year, resulting in the selection of high-caliber scientist and technical experts to join the SAB and CASAC,” said Thomas Brennan, Director of the SABSO.
New SAB Members
Chair of the SAB
Dr. Kimberly L. Jones - Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard University.
SAB Members with Dual Appointments to the Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee
Dr. John DiGiovanni - Professor in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently holds the Coulter R. Sublett Endowed Chair in Pharmacy. In addition, Dr. DiGiovanni is Director of the Center for Molecular Carcinogenesis and Toxicology and Associate Director for Basic Research in the LiveSTRONG Cancer Institute, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Rebecca Fry - Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Dr. Fry is also the Carol Remmer Angle Distinguished Professor in Children’s Environmental Health.
Dr. Douglas C. Wolf, D.V.M, Ph.D. - Senior Fellow, Syngenta
SAB Member with Dual Appointment to the Economic Analysis Committee
Dr. Maximilian Auffhammer - George Pardee Jr. Professor of International Sustainable Development, the Regional Associate Dean in the College of Letters and Science, and the Vice-Chair of the Academic Senate at UC Berkeley.
SAB Member with Dual Appointment to the Environmental Justice Science Committee
Dr. Veronica J. Berrocal - Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of California Irvine (UCI).
Additional SAB Member
Dr. Yiliang Zhu - Professor and Chief in the Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine University of New Mexico School of Medicine.
New CASAC Member
Mr. Henry (Dirk) Felton - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Hill Brothers to Pay Penalty, Improve Safety to Resolve Claims of Clean Air Act Violations at California and Arizona Facilities
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with Hill Brothers Chemical Company to resolve claims of violations of the Clean Air Act’s chemical accident prevention provisions at facilities in the City of Industry, California and in Phoenix, Arizona. Under the settlement, Hill Brothers will pay a civil penalty of $205,000. The chemical accident provisions of the Clean Air Act are designed to ensure the safe manufacture, use, storage, and handling of flammable and toxic substances.
“Reducing risks from accidental releases of toxic substances is a top priority for EPA,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This settlement demonstrates that EPA will be vigilant in holding accountable companies that fail to comply with environmental laws, thereby putting our communities in harm’s way.”
The two facilities in question manage a range of chemical substances. The City of Industry facility receives and repackages anhydrous ammonia and manufactures aqueous ammonia, and also receives chlorine and other chemicals. The Phoenix facility receives and repackages chlorine and receives and distributes sulfur dioxide and anhydrous ammonia. The Phoenix facility also manufactures sodium hypochlorite (bleach) from chlorine and caustic.
During a 2016 EPA inspection of the Phoenix facility and a 2017 EPA inspection of the City of Industry facility and subsequent investigation, EPA found that Hill Brothers did not have adequate information to show that its pressure safety devices were discharging to a safe location or were adequately sized according to industry standards. EPA also determined that Hill Brothers needed to conduct additional preventative maintenance inspections and tests on its equipment, had missing operating procedures, did not check the safety performance history of its contractors before selection, had inconsistencies in employee training, and needed to implement the recommendations from its analysis of its chemical processes and incident investigations. Hill Brothers addressed these concerns pursuant to an EPA order issued on consent in March 2021 and is currently in compliance.
EPA’s Clean Air Act Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations work to prevent accidental chemical releases in our communities and the environment. Facilities holding more than a threshold quantity of a regulated toxic substance, such as the anhydrous ammonia or chlorine present at Hill Brothers, are required to comply with EPA’s RMP regulations. Anhydrous ammonia can cause serious, often irreversible health effects when released. In addition to potential impacts from inhalation or skin contact with this substance, it is highly flammable. Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. Exposure to chlorine can result in nose, throat, and eye irritation, damage to the lungs, or death. The RMP regulations require owners or operators to develop and implement a risk management program to manage regulated toxic substances safely.
Learn about the National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative on reducing risks of accidental releases at industrial and chemical facilities.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
“Reducing risks from accidental releases of toxic substances is a top priority for EPA,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This settlement demonstrates that EPA will be vigilant in holding accountable companies that fail to comply with environmental laws, thereby putting our communities in harm’s way.”
The two facilities in question manage a range of chemical substances. The City of Industry facility receives and repackages anhydrous ammonia and manufactures aqueous ammonia, and also receives chlorine and other chemicals. The Phoenix facility receives and repackages chlorine and receives and distributes sulfur dioxide and anhydrous ammonia. The Phoenix facility also manufactures sodium hypochlorite (bleach) from chlorine and caustic.
During a 2016 EPA inspection of the Phoenix facility and a 2017 EPA inspection of the City of Industry facility and subsequent investigation, EPA found that Hill Brothers did not have adequate information to show that its pressure safety devices were discharging to a safe location or were adequately sized according to industry standards. EPA also determined that Hill Brothers needed to conduct additional preventative maintenance inspections and tests on its equipment, had missing operating procedures, did not check the safety performance history of its contractors before selection, had inconsistencies in employee training, and needed to implement the recommendations from its analysis of its chemical processes and incident investigations. Hill Brothers addressed these concerns pursuant to an EPA order issued on consent in March 2021 and is currently in compliance.
EPA’s Clean Air Act Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations work to prevent accidental chemical releases in our communities and the environment. Facilities holding more than a threshold quantity of a regulated toxic substance, such as the anhydrous ammonia or chlorine present at Hill Brothers, are required to comply with EPA’s RMP regulations. Anhydrous ammonia can cause serious, often irreversible health effects when released. In addition to potential impacts from inhalation or skin contact with this substance, it is highly flammable. Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. Exposure to chlorine can result in nose, throat, and eye irritation, damage to the lungs, or death. The RMP regulations require owners or operators to develop and implement a risk management program to manage regulated toxic substances safely.
Learn about the National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative on reducing risks of accidental releases at industrial and chemical facilities.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.