PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis

Respondent owns and operates a controlled temperature storage warehouse. The Facility is located within a mixed business-residential area within half a mile of many businesses and residences. At the time of the EPA inspection, approximately 14,600 pounds in total ammonia was present at the Facility; however, the facility had two (2) separate refrigeration systems, each…...

OSHA cited a chemical manufacturer after a chemical release at the manufacturing plant exposed workers to ethylene oxide. The company faces $262,548 in penalties. OSHA initiated an inspection after the exposure hospitalized one employee and left five others suffering symptoms of ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure. The Agency cited 25 serious violations, including deficient emergency action…...

OSHA has cited the company contracted to clean lines and vessels at the plant and the processing plant for serious safety violations after a fatal fire at a natural gas processing plant in Pennsylvania.  OSHA inspected the company contracted to clean lines and vessels at the plant after four contractors suffered burns and needed hospitalization. One of…...

Respondent owns and operates a cleaning and maintenance product manufacturing and supply facility where greater than 15,000 pounds of vinyl acetate monomer in a process at its facility. On or about April 4-5, 2017, EPA conducted an inspection of Respondent’s facility to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAA and 40 C.F.R. Part 68…....

OSHA has cited a food facility after a worker required medical treatment due to an anhydrous ammonia leak in the packaging house.  OSHA found issues with the Emergency Action Plan and Employee Alarm System,  RAGAGEP compliance with IIAR standards, PSM Initial and Refresher Training, HAZCOM Training, PSM Incident Investigation Procedures,  Lack of an Emergency Response Plan…...

Respondent is a Wisconsin corporation, with cream cheese and yogurt manufacturing facility. On April 17, 2017, EPA representatives conducted an inspection of the Facility following a reported release of anhydrous ammonia on September 6, 2016, to determine Respondent’s compliance with Section 103 of CERCLA and Sections 302-312 of EPCRA. During the EPA Inspection, Respondent ‘s…...

Respondent owns and operates a food facility that had greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in a process at its facility. From the time Respondent first had onsite greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in a process, Respondent was subject to the requirements of Section 112(r) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. § 7412(r),…...

The defendant is the operator of a facility that handles, stores, and uses anhydrous ammonia in its industrial refrigeration system. GENERAL ALLEGATIONS At all relevant times, Defendant maintained a refrigeration system at the Facility and that system utilized, processed, handled, or stored anhydrous ammonia, a “regulated substance” under CAA Section 112(r)(3). EPA conducted an inspection…...

Respondent owned and operated a facility that stored and used sulfur dioxide, a “regulated substance” under 40 C.F.R. § 68.3, at the facility when it brined cherries. At all times relevant to this CAFO, Respondent’s brining process contained more than the threshold quantity (5,000 pounds) of sulfur dioxide. Respondent’s brining process did not meet the…...

OSHA has cited a meat packing company for exposing workers to releases of hazardous chemicals. The company faces $615,640 in penalties. OSHA determined that the meat-packing facility failed to implement a required Process Safety Management (PSM) program for operating an ammonia refrigeration unit containing over 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. The employer also failed to…...

This CAFO both initiates and resolves an administrative action for the assessment of monetary penalties, pursuant to Section 113(d) of the CAA. As discussed below, the CAFO resolves the following CAA violations that Complainant alleges occurred in connection with Respondent ‘s storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia at its cold storage and distribution facility: failure…...

Respondent operates a “stationary source” and has registered an RMPlan with the EPA for its stationary source and has developed an RMProgram accidental release prevention program for the stationary source. Respondent operates an ammonia refrigeration process that has 13,000 pounds of ammonia in onsite storage. Respondent has one RMProgram level 3 covered process. On March…...