Chlorine Co. Pays $2,225 for Chemical Inventory, Emergency Op Violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled with Tucson, Ariz.-based Pool Chlor Inc. for failing to prepare written emergency operation procedures and failing to submit complete annual chemical inventories in 2005 and 2006, violations of the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know-Act, respectively. The company, which provides chlorination services for recreational swimming pools in the Tucson area, will pay a $2,225 penalty in addition to correcting the violations, EPA said.
"Pool Chlor Inc. violated laws that protect and inform communities near facilities that use hazardous substances and other chemicals," said Daniel Meer, EPA's assistant Superfund director for the Pacific Southwest region. "We will take action against any company that fails to follow these laws that protect emergency responders and the public in the event of an accidental release."
The company submitted chemical inventories for 2005 and 2006 but failed to include all the chemicals present onsite as required. The company also was cited for failing to prepare and submit emergency operation procedures for its on-site chlorine gas storage tank, which violated the Clean Air Act's requirement of registered facilities to prepare written procedures to manage risk at the facility, including procedures for normal and emergency shut-down operations.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know-Act requires all facilities using hazardous substances above specified quantities to provide annual chemical inventory information to local emergency planners for inclusion in the community emergency plan.