Epa Settles With Purity Dairies, Inc. Of Nashville, Tennessee For Violations Of The Emergency Planning And Community Right-To-Know Act

Business Wire, May 1, 1995

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 1995--The U.S. Environment Protection Agency announced today the settlement of an administrative enforcement actions against Purity Dairies, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee for alleged violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA).

The Administrative Complaint alleges that the company failed to submit a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and a completed Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory form for anhydrous ammonia for calendar years 1989-91 to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC); the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and the local fire department with jurisdiction over the facility. Additionally, it is alleged that the company failed to submit reporting forms (Form Rs) for ammonia and phosphoric acid for calendar years 1990-92 to EPA and the Tennessee SERC.

The Consent Agreement and Consent Order requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $21,889 to the U.S. Treasury and undertake and complete two pollution prevention/reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). The SEPs will involve removal and installation of equipment to prevent the release of ammonia vapors into the atmosphere, the installation of ammonia vapor detectors, and modification of the effluent control system to reduce discharges of phosphoric acid and caustic compounds to the local wastewater treatment facility. The cost of the SEPs is estimated at $171,000.

EPCRA, in part, requires certain businesses to submit annual reports on the amounts, location, and potential effects of certain chemicals stored at their facilities and the total amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment, either accidentally or as a result of routine plant operations. These reports provide communities with information to prepare for and respond to emergencies involving hazardous compounds.

CONTACT: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Charles Cartwright, 404/347-1033, ext. 4229

Carl Terry, 404/347-3004, ext. 6755