2019 RETA Breeze Jul-Aug

avoid “outing” ammonia refrigeration facilities, we’ve utilized an ammonia facility other than refrigeration. Though more ammonia refrigera- tion cases exist than most would expect.

More traditionally, EPA issues violations to companies as opposed to individuals. If you’re wondering if the EPA prosecutes ammonia facilities, here is a recent case. In an attempt to

United State Environment Protection Agency REGION 22

XXXXXXXXXXXXX Case

• According to their plea agreement with the government, the company’s plant discharged more than six tons of anhydrous ammonia vapor—a hazardous substance—into the air over the course of a three-day period. A subsequent investigation revealed that several failed attempts to restart the urea plant had caused a series of massive discharges from the facility, triggering numerous complaints of foul odors, eye irritation, and difficulty breathing from citizens of a nearby city. • Although facility personnel knew that excessive ammonia emissions were occurring, no effort was made to alert the authorities at the National Response Center until more than a week after the first discharge. Federal law requires such reports to be made “immediately.” Currently: • The facility was sentenced to pay a $250,000 fine and complete a two-year term of probation. • The facility pleaded guilty to one count of violating section 103(b) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), following a series of large-scale ammonia dis- charges.

The author, Vern Sanderson, is the Safety Services Group Leader at Wagner-Meinert LLC, as well as a part time instructor at the Tex Hildebrand Center, and author. Your feedback is certainly welcome. Vern can be contacted by emailing the Breeze Editor.

No one wants to be in the news for these violations. The negativity associated with these violations has the potential to bankrupt individuals and companies. The cost of compliance is never as high as the cost of non- compliance. The best course of action is to do the right thing, all day every day.

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