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U.S. EPA fines Northern California company for failing to report information needed by first responders

Release Date: 09/26/2008
Contact Information: Wendy Chavez, 415/947-4248, chavez.wendy@epa.gov

Jim Jonas, Inc. violated toxic chemical reporting requirements

(SAN FRANCISCO) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined a Lower Lake, Calif., petroleum bulk storage company $10,000 for allegedly failing to report its toxic chemical inventory, a violation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

Jim Jonas, Inc., located at 16445 Main St., failed to submit complete and correct forms to the U.S. EPA and the state on the amount of 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene, toluene, xylene (mixed isomers), naphthalene, polycyclic aromatic compounds, n-hexane, benzene, and ethylbenzene for reporting years 2005 and 2006.

“Facilities that use toxic chemicals must provide complete and accurate information about these chemicals so residents and emergency responders are aware of possible chemical hazards in the community,” said Enrique Manzanilla, Communities and Ecosystems director for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “We will continue to ensure that companies subject to reporting requirements comply with the community’s right to know.”

Each year the EPA compiles the information submitted from the previous year regarding toxic chemical releases, and produces a national Toxics Release Inventory database for public availability. The database estimates the amounts of each toxic chemical released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site, or transferred off-site for waste management, and also provides a trend analysis of toxic chemical releases.

Benzene, ethylbenzene, napthalene, and polycyclic aromatic compounds are known carcinogens.

For more information on the TRI program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/tri The U.S. EPA’s environmental databases, including the TRI data, can be accessed at: https://www.epa.gov/enviro

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