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U.S. EPA settles with Southern California resins and coatings company for failing to submit timely toxic reports

Release Date: 10/12/2005
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a $28,822 settlement with Reichhold, Inc., of Azusa, Calif. for failing to submit timely toxics reporting forms as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

Located at 237 South Motor Avenue in Azusa, Reichhold, Inc. manufactures resins and gel coatings for the composites, coatings, and graphic arts markets. From 2000 to 2002, the company processed several toxic chemicals - including dibutyl phthalate, ethylene glycol and cobalt compounds - in quantities exceeding their annual thresholds.

"Companies that use potentially hazardous chemicals must follow the EPA's reporting rules - that way we can inform area residents and emergency response personnel of possible chemical hazards in the environment," said Enrique Manzanilla, Communities and Ecosystems Division Director for EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "In this case the company disclosed the violations to the EPA resulting in a penalty reduction."

The penalty was substantially reduced from $137,287 because the company self reported the violations and has since corrected its reporting. The EPA's self-disclosure audit policy provides incentives for violations that are voluntarily discovered, promptly disclosed and expeditiously corrected.

Exposure to dibutyl phthalate may cause irritation of the upper respiratory system and eyes; exposure to ethylene glycol may cause nausea, vomiting and irritation of the eyes, skin, and throat; exposure to cobalt compounds may cause damage to the kidneys.

Enacted in 1986, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act requires reports detailing toxic chemical releases and waste management activities be submitted annually through the Toxics Release Inventory. Facilities who don't submit timely reports not only fail to comply with the annual reporting requirement but fail to make toxic release data available to states and the public in a timely manner.

For more information on TRI, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/tri

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