Town did not immediately notify the NRC as required following an incident when about 106 pounds of chlorine were released into the atmosphere. In addition, the town did not notify the state and did not provide the state or LEPC with written follow-up reports about the incident. EPA also identified other environmental violations during a risk management program inspection at the town’s water treatment facility including:
- failure to develop a management system to oversee a risk management program,
- failure to implement safe work practices to maintain equipment, and
- failure to conduct compliance audits.
In addition to a $27,420 penalty, the town has committed to complete a “supplemental environmental project” at an estimated cost of $100,000. This project will eliminate the risk of future chlorine releases by upgrading the town’s water treatment plant to use sodium hypochlorite instead of chlorine.