US EPA ammonia penalties total $357,075
26th July 2021USA: The US Environmental Protection Agency has settled alleged ammonia violations in cold stores managed by three separate companies in Yakima County, Washington, totalling $357,075.
Stadelman Fruit LLC agreed a penalty of $238,875 for four of its cold storage facilities in Zillah, Washington. Hollingbery and Sons agreed a penalty of $21,600 for its facility in Yakima, Washington, while Hollingbery CA and Cold Storage LLC agreed a penalty of $96,600 for three facilities in Yakima.
All the facilities employed ammonia refrigeration systems.
The settlements of alleged civil chemical accident prevention and preparedness violations reached under Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
Under EPCRA, anhydrous ammonia has a 500lb reporting and planning requirement threshold. Companies are required to file hazardous chemical inventory report forms with the State Emergency Response Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the local Fire Department each year by March 1.
