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EPA Settles with Commencement Bay Corrugated for Reporting Violations

Release Date: 2/10/2003
Contact Information: Bill Dunbar
dunbar.bill@epa.gov
(206) 553-1203

February 10 2003
Company to pay $13,860 penalty, purchase emergency equipment worth $41,525 for local fire department

The Seattle office of the Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Commencement Bay Corrugated, Inc. has agreed to pay penalties and purchase emergency response equipment for the Orting Fire Department for failing to report the existence of hazardous chemicals stored at its facility in Orting, Washington.

The settlement requires the company to pay $13,680 in penalties and to purchase $41,525 in much-needed emergency response supplies for the Orting Fire Department, including portable radios, fire pagers, a gas detector, and thermal imaging equipment.

The federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA)requires facilities to submit an inventory of substantial quantities of hazardous chemicals to the State Emergency Response Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the local fire department. In the event of an emergency, responders rely on this information for their safety and that of nearby residents. The information can also be accessed by citizens who want to know what chemicals are being stored and used in their neighborhoods.

In February 2002, EPA inspectors found the company had not properly notified emergency planning and response authorities for a number of chemicals stored at the facility, including sealing and bonding agents.


Technical Contact: Suzanne Powers , 360/753-9475