EPA settles with Alaska seafood processor UniSea for chemical risk management planning violations
Law intended to inform, protect facilities, communities and first responders
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with UniSea,
Inc., an Alaska seafood processor, for alleged violations of the federal
Clean Air Act Risk Management Program.
On July 21, 2010, EPA inspected the UniSea seafood processing facility
located at 88 Salmon Way, Dutch Harbor, Alaska. At the time of the inspection,
UniSea had greater than the 10,000-pound Clean Air Act threshold of anhydrous
ammonia and greater than the 2,500-pound threshold of chlorine. The EPA
inspection found several violations of the risk management plan regulations.
The settlement included a $142,175 penalty.
“Risk management planning saves people’s lives,” says
Kelly McFadden, manager of EPA’s Pesticides and Toxics Unit in Seattle.
“EPA is committed to protecting workers and communities by reducing
the likelihood of accidental chemical releases and creating a level playing
field for industry.”
The federal Clean Air Act (Section 112r) requires that all public and
private facilities that manufacture, process, use, store or otherwise
handle flammable gases and toxic chemicals develop Risk Management Plans
(RMPs). Facility’s RMPs are then used by local emergency planners
and responders to protect the public from accidental releases of toxic
gases like chlorine, propane, sulfur dioxide and formaldehyde.
The Risk Management Program requires companies to create an emergency
response strategy, evaluate a worst case and probable case chemical release,
and develop/implement a prevention program. The prevention program must
include operator training, a review of the hazards associated with using
toxic or flammable substances, proper operating procedures, and equipment
maintenance.
For a copy of the UniSea CAFO:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/OA/RHC/EPAAdmin.nsf/Filings/4F7C4F9FFD5A333485257D35001BC120?OpenDocument
For more about EPA’s work to prevent accidental releases of toxic
gases and chemicals, please visit:
http://www2.epa.gov/rmp