Post by Logan on Jun 3, 2016 18:05:37 GMT -6
Belfast plant to pay $140,000 to settle case over ammonia use
BELFAST, Maine — A downtown potato-processing company will pay more than $140,000 to cover penalties and pay for safety improvements in order to resolve claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it had violated federal clean air laws.
Penobscot McCrum had faced as much as $320,000 in penalties over its safety measures and use of ammonia after the EPA issued a complaint against it last fall. In that complaint, safety inspectors said the company had underreported the amount of ammonia used at the plant and had failed to develop appropriate emergency plans in case of ammonia leaks, among other concerns listed.
In the settlement, announced Friday afternoon by the federal agency, Penobscot McCrum will pay $60,500 in civil penalties and spend $83,400 on equipment for emergency responders and on public safety improvements at the facility.
The company will provide emergency response equipment to the Belfast Fire Department and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection so that members of those organizations can better detect and deal with releases of ammonia and other toxic substances, according to a press release issued by the federal agency’s New England regional office. Penobscot McCrum also will install an enhanced ammonia detection system, alarm system and security system at the plant.
Read more: bangordailynews.com/2016/06/03/business/belfast-plant-to-pay-140000-to-settle-case-over-ammonia-use/?ref=latest
BELFAST, Maine — A downtown potato-processing company will pay more than $140,000 to cover penalties and pay for safety improvements in order to resolve claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it had violated federal clean air laws.
Penobscot McCrum had faced as much as $320,000 in penalties over its safety measures and use of ammonia after the EPA issued a complaint against it last fall. In that complaint, safety inspectors said the company had underreported the amount of ammonia used at the plant and had failed to develop appropriate emergency plans in case of ammonia leaks, among other concerns listed.
In the settlement, announced Friday afternoon by the federal agency, Penobscot McCrum will pay $60,500 in civil penalties and spend $83,400 on equipment for emergency responders and on public safety improvements at the facility.
The company will provide emergency response equipment to the Belfast Fire Department and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection so that members of those organizations can better detect and deal with releases of ammonia and other toxic substances, according to a press release issued by the federal agency’s New England regional office. Penobscot McCrum also will install an enhanced ammonia detection system, alarm system and security system at the plant.
Read more: bangordailynews.com/2016/06/03/business/belfast-plant-to-pay-140000-to-settle-case-over-ammonia-use/?ref=latest