All News Releases By Date

Conrail To Pay $14,682 For Hollidaysburg Violations

Release Date: 7/28/1999
Contact Information: Donna M. Heron, 215-814-5113

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL) has agreed to pay a $14,682 penalty for allegedly failing to report the presence of hazardous chemicals at its Hollidaysburg, Pa. facility.

EPA’s administrative complaint, cites the company for violating the reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), a federal law designed to protect the public health and environment from accidental releases of hazardous and toxic chemicals.

EPCRA requires companies that store a certain amount of hazardous chemicals to notify state and local emergency response agencies and the local fire departments about the health risks associated with the chemicals, as well as safety precautions for handling, or for accidental exposure. EPCRA also requires companies to annually update state and local emergency response agencies, and the local fire department on the maximum and average amount of hazardous chemicals present at the facility.

According to EPA’s complaint, the company failed to submit the required chemical notifications as well as a mandatory annual inventory for diesel fuel and sulfuric acid stored at the facility. The violations were uncovered during a February 11, 1998 inspection of the plant, located on Loop Road in Hollidaysburg.

The company neither admitted nor denied liability in the settlement agreement, but has certified that it is now in compliance with applicable EPCRA requirements.