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U.S. EPA, OILSEEDS SETTLE RIGHT-TO-KNOW CASE FOR $35,921

Release Date: 2/9/2000
Contact Information: Leo Kay, U.S. EPA, 415/744-2201

     SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently settled a complaint against a San Francisco-based safflower oil manufacturer that requires the company to pay $35,921 for alleged federal community right-to-know violations.  

     The U.S. EPA alleged that Oilseeds International, Inc.'s  facility at 855 Sansome Street failed to file reports estimating its releases of hexane to the environment from 1995 through 1997.  Oilseeds manufactures safflower seed oil by blending crushed seeds with hexane and then processing the mixture through a solvent extraction unit to separate out the remaining oils.

     "Companies who handle hazardous chemicals owe it to their employees and the surrounding community to report how those materials are being used, stored and disposed of," said Enrique Manzanilla, director of the EPA's Cross Media Division in San Francisco.  "We intend on making sure that communities remain aware of chemical use in their neighborhood."

     EPA staff discovered the alleged violations during a routine inspection last March.  The EPA issued the complaint to Oilseeds on Sept. 30.    

     The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act requires annual reports to the EPA and the state from facilities that use or manufacture certain toxic chemicals over a specified amount.  The reports provide estimates of the amounts of each toxic chemical released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site, or transferred off-site to another facility.  Each year the EPA publishes a report entitled the Toxic Release Inventory Public Data Release, which summarized the prior years submissions and provides detailed trend analysis of toxic chemical releases.  

      A copy of the TRI Public Data Release can be obtained by calling (800) 535-0202.  Environmental databases, including TRI data, can also be accessed via the Internet by visiting U.S. EPA Envirofacts Warehouse Home Page at www.epa.gov/enviro.