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EPA Reaches $300,000 Settlement With Argent Chemical Labs for Pesticide Violations

Release Date: 6/1/2005
Contact Information: Chad Schulze
schulze.chad@epa.gov
(206) 553-0505

June 1, 2005

To resolve one of the largest federal pesticide cases in the Northwest, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has signed a Consent Agreement and Final Order(CAFO) with Argent Chemical Laboratories, Eliot Lieberman and Bertriz Shanahann of Redmond, Washington.

According to Mike Bussell, Director of EPA’s Office of Enforcement & Compliance, in Seattle:

“This a landmark case in many respects,” said Bussell. “It took a lot of hard work, but we’re pleased with the settlement and hope it represents a turning point for the company. “As part of this action, Argent Chemical Laboratories and the two individuals have demonstrated a clearer understanding of their responsibilities under federal pesticide law and have committed to comply.”

The settlement agreement includes a penalty of $300,000 and requires the Respondents to:

1) Cease sale of a number of specified products;
2) Cease production of pesticides;
3) Cease export of unregistered pesticides;
4) Provide copies of specified records to EPA for 5 years;
5) Submit annual certifications that they are complying with the agreement; and
6) Consent to EPA inspections.

The complaint, filed in May 2004, alleged 304 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act violations. The violations included the sale of unregistered pesticides, sale of restricted use pesticides to uncertified users, export of pesticides without appropriate foreign language labels or receipt of acknowledgement statements, production of pesticides in an unregistered establishment and the failure to file annual production reports.

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Related Links:

Region 10 Pesticides Program (yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ECOCOMM.NSF/webpage/Pesticides)
Region 10 Compliance and Enforcement (yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ENFORCE.NSF/)

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