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EPA Orders HPI Products, Inc. of St. Joseph, Missouri, to Cease Warehouse Operations Until Compliance

Release Date: 03/21/2007
Contact Information: Shawntell Martin, (913) 551-7676, martin.shawntell@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., March 21, 2007) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 is stopping all illegal hazardous waste handling activities and requiring decontamination at the HPI Products, Inc. warehouse facility in St. Joseph, Mo., EPA Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew announced today.

“We have ordered HPI to immediately clean up spills and thoroughly investigate the warehouse,” Askew said. “We will make sure the warehouse is fully cleaned, conditions are safe, and a plan is in place for proper storage and management of hazardous materials in the future.”

Inspections revealed numerous unlabeled 55-gallon drums and containers of hazardous materials that were corroded, damaged, and leaking in the warehouse. The warehouse facility is storing cancelled pesticides, outdated and unusable chemicals, and other chemicals stored in decaying containers. The warehouse will not resume its handling of any hazardous materials until it complies with all requirements of the EPA order.

HPI, a pesticide producer, may have operated several locations in the St. Joseph, Mo. Area. EPA is currently inspecting these other possible locations and will promptly deal with any violations discovered as a result of these inspections.