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Tacoma Terminals fined $49,927 for Right-To-Know violations

Release Date: 12/29/2005
Contact Information: Contact: Stephanie Mairs 206/553-7359 Jeff Philip 206/553-1465

December 29, 2005


Tacoma, Washington - The Seattle office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Konoike-Pacific Tacoma Terminals has agreed to pay $49,927.73 to settle violations of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

The company failed to report large quantities of ammonia stored at its Tacoma cold storage facility to proper emergency response authorities.

Facilities that store significant quantities of certain hazardous chemicals, such as ammonia, are required to submit an inventory of each chemical to the State Emergency Response Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the local fire department. Emergency responders rely on this information for their safety and to help protect nearby residents during an emergency, such as a fire or earthquake. Citizens can also access the information to find out what chemicals are being stored and used in their neighborhoods.

Konoike-Pacific Tacoma Terminals uses ammonia in its refrigeration systems. Ammonia is a colorless gas that can cause severe burns to skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, and with high enough exposure, death.

Risk Management Program (yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/sites/rmp)

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