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Hazardous chemical reporting roundup: EPA Settles Hamtramck, Mich., case; issues complaint against Ashtabula company

Release Date: 01/06/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT:
Mick Hans, (312) 353-5050
Karen Thompson, (312) 353-8547

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA001

CHICAGO (Jan 6, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 recently settled an administrative case involving hazardous chemical reporting violations with Sterling Services Ltd., Hamtramck, Mich. Separately, a complaint was filed against Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, Ashtabula, Ohio.

Sterling Services, at 1530 Commor St. in Hamtramck, paid $10,687 to resolve EPA's complaint for failure to submit required 2000, 2001 and 2002 chemical inventory forms for large amounts of oil products, including gasoline, to the Michigan Emergency Response Commission, the Wayne County local planning committee or the Hamtramck Fire Department. As part of the settlement, the company also agreed to install a rail line spill containment system at the facility and donate new emergency response equipment to the Hamtramck Fire Department. The supplementary environmental projects are valued at $32,714.

EPA proposed a $51,564 civil penalty against Millennium Inorganic Chemicals at 2426 Middle Road in Ashtabula. The company was cited for failure to promptly report a 61-pound release of chlorine on Dec. 18, 2001, to the National Response Center, the Ohio Emergency Response Commission and the local emergency planning committee. Facilities are required to immediately notify response agencies of chlorine releases of more than 10 pounds. Millennium notified the agencies between four and five hours after the incident.

Chlorine reacts explosively with many common chemicals. It causes headaches, nausea, choking and burns to the respiratory system.