All News Releases By Date

EPA settlement to help ensure safety of more than a dozen communities near TRANSFLO facilities

Release Date: 07/21/2014
Contact Information: Bonnie J. Smith, smith.bonnie@epa.gov, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA (July 21, 2014) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and TRANSFLO Terminal Services, Inc., a company that transfers bulk commodities between railcars and trucks, have entered into an administrative agreement requiring TRANSFLO to evaluate if Risk Management Plans are required at any of its 13 facilities in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Where required, the plans will be implemented at those facilities.

The agreement for TRANSFLO to evaluate if Risk Management Plans are required at 13 of its facilities resulted from alleged violations identified during an inspection by EPA at the TRANSFLO facility in Butler, Pa.

In Butler, TRANSFLO transloads propane, butane and propylene - flammable and hazardous substances. According to EPA, the alleged violations at Butler include failing to have: appropriate procedures to adequately safeguard its liquid propane gas (LPG) transfer equipment; not conducting training to maintain the integrity of the LPG transfer equipment; and not filing a risk management plan in a timely manner.

As part of the settlement, the company did not admit liability for the alleged violations.

TRANSFLO’s operations for potential inclusion in the Risk Management Program are located in:
Delaware: Wilmington
Maryland: Baltimore and Hagerstown
Pennsylvania: Butler, Chester, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh
Virginia: Fredericksburg, Portsmouth and Richmond
West Virginia: Clarksburg, Fairmont and South Charleston

The Clean Air Act’s risk management program requirements also apply to stationary sources transmitting natural gas that involve regulated substances, including butane and propane.

For more information about the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program requirements, see https://www.epa.gov/compliance/monitoring/programs/caa/112r.html and https://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/.

For information about RMP*eSubmit or to view a Checklist for Submitting Your Risk Management Plan (RMP) for Chemical Accident Prevention and the RMP*eSubmit Users’ Manual, visit https://www.epa.gov/emergencies/rmp.