Savage Arms Inc., a Westfield, Mass., company that manufactures rifles has improved reporting of toxic materials used in their processes as a result of US Environmental Protection Agency Settlement

 

A Westfield, Mass. Company Improves Transparency on Toxic Materials Used after EPA Settlement

07/07/2016

Contact Information: 

Emily Bender (bender.emily@epa.gov)

617-918-1037

Boston – Savage Arms Inc., a Westfield, Mass., company that manufactures rifles has improved reporting of toxic materials used in their processes as a result of US Environmental Protection Agency Settlement. Savage Arms Inc. is now in compliance with the federal right-to-know law and has agreed to pay $77,000 to settle claims.
The Savage Arms Inc. company manufactures rifles and small arms. The Westfield facility makes approximately 980 each day. Part of the manufacturing process requires the use of lead and chromium, two metals that require reporting for the Toxic Release Inventory under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Reporting the use of toxic materials is important to ensure community members know about chemicals present in their communities.
In October 2014, after an inspection of the Westfield facility, EPA discovered that Savage Arms Inc. failed to submit required information relating to its use of lead and chromium in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Once notified of the failure the company willingly came into compliance and submitted the required information.
"It's so important for a facility like Savage to keep its toxic inventory reporting updated because it is the first step to inform the community about the presence of chemicals in their neighborhood," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office.
The Toxic Release Inventory is a resource for learning about toxic chemical releases and pollution prevention activities reported by industrial and federal facilities. Toxic Release Inventory data support informed decision-making by communities, government agencies, companies, and others. Timely information from the Toxic Release Inventory can influence health studies as well as the cleanup of industrial pollution.
The Toxic Substances in this Case:

• Lead itself does not break down in the environment and can affect almost every organ and system in the human body. The main target for lead toxicity is the nervous system, both in adults and children.
• Chromium is a respiratory irritant that enters the body when airborne particles are inhaled. The company has air emissions control systems to capture these pollutants but nonetheless must report that it uses these substances.

For more information on the Toxic Release Inventory, including information on reporting facilities in your community, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program