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EPA Cites Cabot Corp. for Chemical Notification and Storage Violations

Release Date: 10/3/2002
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited Cabot Corp. for violating hazardous chemical reporting requirements by failing to immediately notify emergency response agencies about two leaks of hazardous chemicals. EPA also cited the company for operating without a hazardous waste storage permit at its Boyertown, Montgomery County, Pa., manufacturing plant.

In the first complaint, EPA is seeking an $151,254 penalty for the untimely reporting of chemical releases in violation of federal laws requiring companies to immediately report releases of hazardous substances to the National Response Center and designated state and local emergency officials.

According to EPA, Cabot released 275 pounds of anhydrous ammonia on February 7, 2000, but did not report the release to the National Response Center until 34 hours later. State emergency response officials were also not notified as required.

EPA also alleges that Cabot violated reporting requirements when it released 1,239 pounds of hydrofluoric acid on March 25, 2000, and did not notify the National Response Center and state and local emergency response officials until four and half hours later. The company also did not provide the required followup report promptly to state and local officials.

EPA’s second complaint is based on an inspection in May, 2000 which EPA found that several employees did not have required hazardous waste training, and that two 25 to 35 gallon drums were not properly labeled as hazardous waste and both had been stored there for an unknown period of time. For these violations, the company was cited with owning or operating a hazardous waste storage unit without a permit. The proposed penalty for these violations is $15,840.

The company has the right to a hearing to contest the alleged violations and proposed penalties.