EPA fined DuPont for improper maintenance and repair of two large refrigeration units at its chemical manufacturing plant in Deepwater, New Jersey.
The firm said it has corrected the problems in its leak detection program and will comply with reporting requirements.
Dawn M. Hughes, plant manager, said the DuPont Chambers Works site has reached an agreement with the EPA related to 2007 and 2009 audits.
Principle allegations regarded improper record keeping with the reporting of specific compounds and the performance of pollution control devices, she said in a statement to FoodQualityNews.
“There were no allegations that the site had any unpermitted emissions or that any impact was made to human health or the environment from these procedural issues.
“Under the settlement, DuPont reviewed all of its Clean Air Act and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements to ensure that all areas of alleged non-compliance have been addressed.
“The site remains committed to meeting all regulatory requirements and operating at the highest standards for protection of the environment.”
Minimise CFC leaking
The systems are designed to minimize chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from leaking into the environment and potentially damaging the ozone layer.
DuPont also failed to accurately submit reports to EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
The 1,455-acre DuPont Chambers Works Complex is on the eastern shore of the Delaware River in Deepwater, New Jersey and manufactures dyes, freon, tetraethyl lead and chemicals.
Two large refrigeration units have a capacity of 3,000 pounds of CFCs and are used in the chemical manufacturing process.
Gly-Tek settles with EPA
In a separate case, Gly-Tek has agreed to settle with the EPA for violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) or Superfund cleanup law, in November.
The food additive formulator based in Twin Falls, Idaho will pay a $25,000 penalty.
Violations follow a 24,700 pound release of a 50% sulfuric acid solution at the facility.
Gly-Tek manufactures polyglycerol esters for the food industry. Polyglycerol esters are non-ionic surfactants that are used in commercial food preparation.
Delayed notification
EPA documents allege that Gly-Tek, Inc., took nearly two hours to report the spill to the Local Emergency Response Committee (LEPC), and did not call the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and National Response Center (NRC).
Companies that release more than 1000 pounds of sulfuric acid are required by law to notify all three authorities within 15 minutes.
Kelly McFadden, manager of EPA’s Pesticides and Toxics unit in Seattle, said notification is critical in protecting facility workers, first responders and the community.
"If your facility suffers a spill or serious accident involving reportable quantities of chemicals, by law, local, state and federal authorities must be immediately given important information about the size and scope of the spill.
“Prompt emergency response can save lives and emergency response is triggered by notification."