PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis

Respondent owns and operates a manufacturing facility, which produced, used, or stored more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. During an October and December 2011 inspection EPA found the following issues, settling for $146,000…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Two (2) frozen food production plants have been cited by OSHA with 27 safety violations carrying fines of $150,000. OSHA received complaints alleging hazards with the ammonia refrigeration systems at these facilities. A fire at the Burlington facility Jan. 30 resulted in the destruction of a portion of the plant’s ammonia refrigeration system, causing significant…...

A poultry processing plant has been cited with 11 safety violations and proposed penalties totaling $170,000. The inspection, which began in January, was initiated under the agency’s PSM Covered Chemical Facilities NEP. A willful violation, with a $70,000 fine, was cited for failing to document that the emergency shutdown system for the engine room was…...

A refinery has been cited for five safety and health violations, including one willful and one repeat, with proposed penalties totaling $126,900. OSHA found deficiencies in the employer’s PSM program and other workplace hazards. The inspection, which began in January, was a follow-up to a 2010 inspection initiated under the agency’s Petroleum Refinery PSM NEP…....

A polyethylene foam product manufacturing facility has been cited by OSHA with 21 safety violations carrying fines of $128,700. OSHA’s January inspection followed an explosion that resulted in the injury of three workers and significant property damage.  The explosion occurred when isobutane gas entered exhaust ductwork associated with the foam extrusion manufacturing process, and it…...

A business has paid a $73,790 penalty for not submitting a required risk management plan for a facility in Pa.  Under the federal Clean Air Act, facilities that maintain certain quantities of regulated substances must submit a risk management plan to EPA that explains steps the facility would take to reduce the risk of accidental…...

EPA announced that a gas and oil exploration company will pay a $42,504 penalty to settle Clean Air Act violations at its natural gas liquid extraction plant.  EPA alleged that the company failed to comply with federal clean air regulations intended to prevent accidental releases of flammable substances.  The settlement follows up on an EPA…...

Respondent owns and operates a refrigerated juice facility. On July 10, 2000, under Section 112(r) of the Act and implementing regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 68, Respondent submitted to U.S. EPA an RMP for the Facility. According to the RMP submitted to U.S. EPA, the Facility is “frozen fruit, juice, and vegetable manufacturing”.  They use…...

Respondent owned and operated the natural gas production site which stored produced water including residual hydrocarbons in a 400-barrel fiberglass tank, and natural gas condensate in a 21O-barrel steel tank (tank battery), from natural gas production wells located at the site. A second 210-barrel steel tank was also present in the tank battery. On July…...

OSHA issued 23 serious violations, with a penalty of $118,000, regarding PSM, electrical, confined space and lockout-tagout of hazardous energy sources and respirator protection standards. Some of the serious PSM violations include failing to develop a written plan of action ensuring worker involvement in the PSM program; conduct inspections and tests of process equipment, such…...

Company failed to lockout and/or positively seal off an oil discharge which are readily adaptable to lockable controls and readily sealed to prevent the release of ammonia gas into the atmosphere when performing a “Hot Gas” procedure to correct an operational defect, product icing in the chiller.  As direct result of this violation, an employee…...

On September 11, 2012 EPA conducted a compliance inspection of a Bulk Petroleum and Anhydrous facility to determine its compliance with the Risk Management Plan (“RMP”) regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 112(r) of the Act, and set forth at 40 C.F.R. Part 68. Based on the inspection and documents submitted by Respondent, EPA has determined…...