DuPont
Fined for Air Pollution at Deepwater, New Jersey
Contact:
Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov
(New
York, N.Y. – Jan. 8, 2015) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced
today that E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (DuPont), has been fined $531,000
for alleged Clean Air Act violations at its chemical manufacturing plant in
Deepwater, New Jersey. The EPA fined DuPont for improper maintenance and repair
of two large refrigeration units. When properly maintained, the systems are
designed to minimize chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from leaking into the
environment. CFCs damage the ozone layer, which shields the earth from harmful radiation
that contributes to increased skin cancer. The company also failed to
accurately submit reports to EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act.
“CFCs
deplete the ozone layer and this destruction has been clearly linked to an
increase in people getting skin cancer,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional
Administrator. “As the ozone gets thinner, more harmful ultraviolet rays reach
the Earth's surface and put people’s health at risk.”
The 1,455-acre DuPont Chambers Works Complex is
located along the eastern shore of the Delaware River in Deepwater, New Jersey.
The site began industrial activities in 1892. Since then, manufacturing of
dyes, freon, tetraethyl lead and chemicals took place at the site. The two
large refrigeration units have a capacity of 3,000 pounds of CFCs and are used
in the company’s chemical manufacturing process.
In
addition to paying $531,000, DuPont corrected the problems in its leak
detection program and will comply with reporting requirements, as the law requires.
The
proposed settlement was lodged with the United States District Court for the
State of New Jersey, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period. Comments
may be submitted either by e-mail or by mail:
Assistant
Attorney General
U.S.
DOJ – ENRD
P.O.
Box 7611
Washington,
D.C. 20044-7611
During
the public comment period, the Consent Decree may be examined and downloaded at
this Justice Department website: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html