EPA: the Earle M. Jorgensen Company (EMJ) and its contractors repeatedly failed to meet necessary and agreed-upon cleanup requirements and presented unnecessary risks to human health and the environment during the cleanup.

EPA: Duwamish cleanup must be done right

Release Date: 08/27/2015
Contact Information: Bill Dunbar, 206-553-1019

Agency issues penalties for ignoring cleanup work plans at former Jorgensen Forge site

(SEATTLE – August 26, 2015) Nine months after issuing its Duwamish Waterway cleanup plan, the United States Environmental Protection Agency is sending a message to a company responsible for cleaning up its portion of the waterway’s pollution:  make sure the work is done right or pay the price.

As they removed and transported creosote pilings and PCB-laden sediments from the Jorgensen Forge site, the Earle M. Jorgensen Company (EMJ) and its contractors repeatedly failed to meet necessary and agreed-upon cleanup requirements and presented unnecessary risks to human health and the environment during the cleanup.

The EPA is proposing penalties of $367,500 for seven separate violations of the cleanup agreement between EPA and EMJ that occurred between July 2014 and July 2015.

Sediment cleanup work in a working river is complicated, so the EPA builds Best Management Practices (BMPs) into the workplans that are developed for each cleanup site to prevent release of contaminated material during cleanup work.  Following these BMPs helps companies and their contractors get the job done correctly and safely.

Conversely, failure to do the work as required by the cleanup agreement and the BMPs detailed in the agreement, can lead to release of contaminants during cleanup activities which may have adverse impacts to human health and the environment.

Throughout the construction activities, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers observed and documented multiple violations of the cleanup agreement between the company and the EPA. Many of the violations were discovered by the EPA and the Corps, despite EMJ representatives being on-site at that time ostensibly to ensure that the work was being performed consistent with the cleanup agreement.  For example, last year EMJ’s contractors repeatedly failed to use BMPs for pilings removal and sediment management and failed to take samples of sediments, as required, to determine if they’d actually cleaned up the site.

The EPA project manager called attention to the workplans -- and BMPs that should have guided the work -- but was typically ignored at each misstep.

According to Sheila Fleming, associate director of the EPA’s regional Superfund office, EMJ committed repeated serious violations: “We understand that occasionally mistakes are made,” said Fleming. “But when warnings are ignored week after week, month after month, it seems that the company and its contractors just didn’t care about the law.”

Goodrich Corporation and Partner’s Produce, Inc. settle with the EPA for hazardous chemical release reporting violations

Two Northwest companies settle with the EPA for hazardous chemical release reporting violations

Release Date: 08/27/2015
Contact Information: Marianne Holsman, EPA Public Affairs, holsman.marianne@epa.gov 206.553.1237

(SEATTLE – August 26, 2015) Two Pacific Northwest companies have settled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after failing to report the release of extremely hazardous substances to federal, state, and local agencies  in violation of federal laws designed to protect communities and first responders.

Goodrich Corporation, Washington:

Goodrich Corporation in Spokane, Washington failed to immediately report the release of hydrogen cyanide to the National Response Center, the State Emergency Response Commission, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, as required by Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and Section 304 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act.

EPA alleges that on October 6, 2014, Goodrich released 25.5 pounds of hydrogen cyanide over a two-hour period. EPA alleges that Goodrich had knowledge of the release of hydrogen cyanide in quantities equal to or greater than 10 pounds, the reportable quantity, but did not report the release for nearly six weeks. Hydrogen cyanide is a hazardous substance listed in 40 C.F.R. § 302.4 and must be reported if 10 pounds or more is released. Hydrogen cyanide is highly flammable and soluble in water.  It may form explosive mixtures with air and be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Hydrogen cyanide may be fatal if inhaled or absorbed through skin. Initial odor may be irritating or foul and may deaden the sense of smell.

Goodrich has agreed to pay a penalty of $52,000.

Partner's Produce, Inc., Idaho:

Partner’s Produce, Inc. in Payette, Idaho failed to immediately report the release of anhydrous ammonia to the National Response Center, State Emergency Response Commission, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, as required by Section 103 of CERCLA and Section 304 of EPCRA.

EPA alleges that Partner’s Produce released approximately 378 pounds of anhydrous ammonia on February 14, 2014, from its Payette, Idaho facility. Anhydrous ammonia is a poisonous gas. Exposure to vapors can cause temporary blindness and eye damage, as well as irritation of the skin, mouth, throat, respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Prolonged exposure to anhydrous ammonia vapor at high concentrations can lead to serious lung damage and even death.

EPA also alleges that Partner’s Produce violated Section 312 of EPCRA for failing to file annual Tier II Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reports for anhydrous ammonia at its facility in Payette, Idaho.  EPCRA Section 312 requires companies to file hazardous chemical inventory reports with the State Emergency Response Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the local Fire Department each year by March 1st.

Partner’s Produce agreed to pay a penalty of $67,392.

EPCRA was created in 1986 after the tragedy at the Union Carbide Pesticide plant in Bhopal India in which methylisocyanate was accidentally released killing and injuring thousands. EPCRA helps communities plan for emergencies involving hazardous substances. EPCRA requires hazardous chemical emergency planning by federal, state and local governments, tribes, and industry. It also requires industry to report on the storage, use and releases of hazardous chemicals to federal, state, and local governments. More information can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/epcra.

City of Jerome, Idaho Settles Wastewater Permit Violations with EPA for Illegal Discharges into Snake River

Release Date: 08/27/2015
Contact Information: Judy Smith, Public Affairs Officer 503-326-6994 smith.judy@epa.gov

City agrees to spend $43 million to upgrade plant

(Seattle, WA – August 27, 2015) Wastewater discharged into the Snake River, the J8 canal and other waters will be cleaner as a result of a recent settlement between the City of Jerome, Idaho and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The City has agreed to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to ensure the facility has the capacity to handle future discharges.

The Clean Water Act requires that wastewater discharges comply with permitted limits for a variety of pollutants. Between April 2010 and July 2011, numerous discharges from the treatment plant exceeded permit limitations for biological oxygen demands, total suspended solids, chlorine, fecal coliforms, e.coli, pH, phosphorous and dissolved oxygen.

“Wastewater treatment plants can contribute large amounts of pollution to our waterways, so it’s critically important that the discharges are properly controlled and treated,” said Ed Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle. “This action will move us closer to our goal of removing the Snake River from the list of impaired water bodies and ensuring clean water for drinking, fishing, swimming and other activities for everyone in Idaho.”

The July 30, 2015 Consent Decree between the City of Jerome and EPA sets forth actions that the City will take to settle numerous violations of their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

To bring the wastewater discharges into compliance, the City of Jerome has constructed an emergency storage pond that can hold 21 million gallons of wastewater.  The City will also make approximately $43 million in improvements to the wastewater treatment facility over the next six years.  These upgrades will include adding two basins and increasing blower capacity in the membrane treatment area, adding a new sludge dewatering building, adding an additional aeration basin, pump station and blower building, new yard piping and increased biotower ventilation.

In addition, the City of Jerome will pay an $86,000 civil penalty to settle claims it was discharging wastewater in violation of its permits.

More information on NPDES Permits and how EPA enforces the Clean Water Act: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/

2 injured after car crashes onto a pole north of Selma, NC

It happened in the 1500 block of Thanksgiving Fire Rd. north of Selma.

Updated 7 mins ago

SELMA, NC (WTVD) --

There are reported injuries in a crash in the 1500 block of Thanksgiving Fire Rd. north of Selma.

It was reported just after 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

Pictures from Chopper 11 HD showed a car off on the side of the road that collided with a power pole.

Two people in the car were taken to the hospital.

It took 80 firefighters to put out a three-alarm blaze that engulfed one home and extended to two others early Thursday in Plainfield, New Jersey.

 

Sergio Amaral

Updated Thursday, Aug 27, 2015

It took 80 firefighters to put out a three-alarm blaze that engulfed one home and extended to two others early Thursday in New Jersey.

The fire started at a home on East Second Street in Plainfield and spread to two neighboring homes, said Acting Fire Chief Jeffrey Courtney.


Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the three homes. The building where the fire started partially collapsed.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were in the homes at the time of 

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.