EPA Settles With Ventura Foods for Reporting Violations

Nov. 10, 2000
Ventura Foods will pay a $34,554 fine and complete environmental projects costing $128,905 for failing to report a hazardous chemical release and not properly maintaining hazardous chemical records.

EPA Region 5 recently settled an administrative complaint against Ventura Foods, Albert Lea, Minn., for alleged violations of federal laws on the reporting of a hazardous chemical release, as well as alleged failure to maintain required hazardous chemical records.

Under its agreement with EPA, the company will pay a $34,554 fine and complete environmental projects costing $128,905, for a total settlement of $163,459.

According to EPA, on Aug. 30, 1998, Ventura Foods failed to promptly report the release of an estimated 1,000 pounds to 1,500 pounds of ammonia into the air.

Federal laws require facilities to immediately notify the National Resource Center (NRC) and the state emergency response commission upon any release of ammonia above 100 pounds.

The release was reported to the NRC and the Minnesota Emergency Response Commission (MER) on Aug. 31, 1998, about 22 hours after the incident occurred.

Ventura Foods also failed to provide a written follow-up report to the MERC, 130 after the incident.

The company was also cited for failing to provide completed emergency and hazardous chemical inventory forms, for the storage of 8,600 pounds of ammonia, to the MERC and the Albert Lea fire Department for calendar years 1996 and 1997.

Under the terms of the settlement, Ventura Foods will conduct two environmental response projects:

  • purchase and donate hazardous materials response equipment to the Albert Lea Fire Department at a cost of $30,915, and
  • install and operate ammonia release detection systems at a cost of $97,900 at four of its facilities, located in Albert Lea; Birmingham, Ala.; St. Joseph, Mo.; and Saginaw, Texas.

Ammonia may be fatal if inhaled, causes burns to the skin and eyes and can lead to respiratory tract irritation and blindness.

Since 1989, EPA Region 5 has filed 222 separate complaints for hazardous chemical reporting violations, resulting in 209 settlements worth $4.98 million in total fines and $3.40 million in environmental projects.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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