EPA Settlement with Trucking Company will Improve Facility Safety
Different stakeholders are involved in the settlement to make sure N&D Transportation Company Inc. in Rhode Island is held accountable.
- By Shereen Hashem
- Apr 22, 2021
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and N&D Transportation Company Inc. reached a settlement and corrected alleged violations of chemical safety regulations, according to a press release. They will pay a penalty of $314, 658.
EPA claims the company violated chemical accident prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act and violations of chemical inventory of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
"EPA's enforcement action, and the company's subsequent actions in response to it, have resulted in a safer facility and helped protect human health and the environment in the surrounding community," said EPA New England Acting Regional Administrator Deborah Szaro. "This settlement demonstrates that chemical accident prevention requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPCRA are in place for a reason and shows EPA's dedication to working with facilities to ensure chemical safety compliance."
EPA claims the company violated the Clean Air Act between 2015 and 2020 by failing to comply with chemical and process hazard safety requirements under the “general duty clause” (GDC) and “risk management program” (RMP) provisions. The company also violated EPCRA by not submitting chemical inventory reports.
According to a press release, the N&D facility is located near a tributary of the Blackstone River in Rhode Island along with many residences and businesses. An EPA inspection raised many concerns from facility safety to water-reactive chemicals. One of the most serious claims is that it appeared that the emergency and fire response personnel were unaware of the chemicals at the facility, thereby putting first responders at risk should they be called to the site.
This case is a part of an EPA Chemical Accident Risk Reduction National Compliance Initiative. EPA Region 1 coordinated with OSHA, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Rhone Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the local fire department.
EPA works with a variety of stakeholders to make sure everyone is safe.
About the Author
Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.