Respondent is the owner of the meat processing facility which utilizes anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous substance, at the Facility. From December 28-30, 2017, Respondent inadvertently released approximately 1,700 pounds of ammonia due to a faulty isolation valve in the Facility’s refrigeration system (“the Release”). On December 13, 2018, EPA conducted an inspection of the Facility to determine Respondent’s compliance with Section 103 of CERCLA and Sections 302-312 of EPCRA in response to the December 28-30, 2017 release of anhydrous ammonia from the Facility. During the inspection, EPA gathered information relevant to Respondent’s compliance with Section 103 of CERCLA and Sections 302-312 of EPCRA. During and after the inspection, Respondent submitted information to EPA regarding its compliance with CERCLA and EPCRA.
Respondent should have had knowledge of a release of ammonia from the Facility in quantities exceeding the RQ on or before 8:30 a.m. on December 29, 2017, when an employee observed a frosted-over condenser drain line. Respondent reported the release of ammonia to the NRC at 8:43 pm on December 29, 2017, approximately 12 hours and 13 minutes after having knowledge of the Release.