$270k penalty for ammonia violations

USA: California-based fruit processor Ventura Coastal LLC will pay civil penalties of $270,00 to resolve Clean Air Act chemical risk management violations related to its use of ammonia. 

The agreement reached with the US EPA followed inspections of Ventura Coastal’s Visalia facility in May 2019. The EPA determined that the facility improperly managed refrigeration equipment containing more than 10,000lb of anhydrous ammonia in violation of Section 112(r) of the US Clean Air Act. 

The EPA found that the company failed to keep up-to-date information on equipment, failed to label piping and equipment, did not adequately describe maintenance and inspection frequencies for equipment and instrumentation, failed to inspect equipment and correct deficiencies, and did not address internal audit and incident investigation findings in a timely manner.