Respondent owns and operates meat processing facilities located in Pennsylvania. As stated in Respondent’s RMP for each of the PA Facilities, Respondent has anhydrous ammonia in the following approximate quantities:
- 88,000 pounds at the Wyalusing Facility;
- 20,500 pounds at the Hazleton Facility.
On June 27, 2017, EPA conducted an inspection of the Wyalusing Facility to determine compliance with 40 C.F.R. Part 68.
On August 1, 2017, Respondent reported to the National Response Center (“NRC”) that beginning at or around 2:00 a.m, that day, an estimated 33 pounds of ammonia had been released from the Hazleton Facility and stated that “the root cause of the incident was a failed o-ring … .”
On August 4, 2017, Respondent reported to the NRC that beginning at or around 7:30 a.m. that day, an estimated 71 pounds of ammonia had been released from the Hazleton Facility and stated that the root cause of the incident was “a potential failure of a PRV.”