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Guam, American Samoa facilities settle risk management plan deficiencies

Release Date: 06/07/2006
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov

(06/07/06) Agency will also sponsor free workshops in Guam and CNMI

HONOLULU -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently settled with two facilities in Guam and one in American Samoa that requires them to pay a collective $3,200 for failing to review and update risk management plans for storage of hazardous chemicals by June 2004.

Shell Guam, Inc. and Island Equipment in Guam, and Chicken of the Sea Samoa in American Samoa settled under the agency’s expedited settlement agreement policy with reduced penalties. All three companies are taking steps to update their risk management plans. Chicken of the Sea Samoa will pay $1,200 in penalties, while Shell Guam and Island Equipment will pay $1,200 and $800.

“It is important for companies to update their risk management plans to protect workers, the community and the environment from exposure to accidental chemical releases,” said Mary Wesling, enforcement coordinator for the EPA Pacific Southwest region’s Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Team.

The Clean Air Act requires a registered facility to include any new information in its risk management plan and do an update five years after submitting the plan. Due to changes in the law which were effective in April 2004, all registered facilities were required to update and resubmit their plans by June 21, 2004.

Free Hazardous Materials Handling Workshops, July 27 in CNMI and Aug. 2 in Guam

The EPA will hold workshops in Guam and CNMI covering hazardous materials handling and management, transport, storage, and release reporting in Saipan on July 27 at the Hyatt, and on Aug. 2 at the Guam Hilton. The workshops will be presented from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free workshops will contain information of interest to all business owners who handle chemicals, local and state agency personnel, and community members. Pre-registration is required due to limited space. This workshop is essential for all facilities that use or store hazardous substances in quantities subject to federal regulations.

The EPA’s Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Program will provide information on the requirements for reporting chemical inventories and accidental release prevention, as well as requirements for managing risk posed by chemicals used or stored at facilities. EPA guidance documents and information will be provided to workshop attendees.

To pre-register, please email: mittlemans@saic.com or call/fax your registration to either Shanron Mittleman at 510-466-7173, 510-466-7919 (fax); Mike Gawel at Guam EPA for the Guam workshop at 671-475-1646, 671-477-9402 (fax) or Mike.Gawel@guamepa.net; or Dave Chargualaf, at the CNMI DEQ, for the CNMI workshop at (670)664-8500/1, (670)664-8540 fax or davidchargualaf@deq.gov.mp.
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