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Chemical spill reporting violations: EPA settles with House of Flavors, Ludington, Mich.

Release Date: 03/11/2008
Contact Information: Kären Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA34

CHICAGO (March 11, 2008) -U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 recently settled an administrative case involving hazardous chemical release and inventory reporting violations at House of Flavors Inc., in Ludington, Mich.

The company, located at 110 N. William St., paid $18,797 to resolve EPA's enforcement action for failure to provide immediate notification to the National Response Center and state and local emergency response commissions of a 600-pound release of anhydrous ammonia Jan. 27, 2006. Ammonia releases greater than 500 pounds must be reported. A required follow-up report was filed late. Additionally, House of Flavors failed to submit emergency and hazardous chemical inventory forms for 2002-2004 to the state of Michigan and local authorities.

Anhydrous ammonia is commonly used in commercial refrigeration systems and causes burns to the skin and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. It may be fatal if inhaled for long periods of time.

Federal law requires immediate notification of the NRC for anhydrous ammonia releases above 100 pounds. The NRC activates the appropriate response authorities. Responders need to know what they're dealing with so they can take steps to protect people living and working in the area.