EPA settles with Colortech Inc., Morristown, Tenn., for violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act.ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1994--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and announced Wednesday the settlement of an administrative enforcement action against Colortech Inc. of Morristown, Tenn., for alleged violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 is a United States federal law locate at Title 42, Chapter 116 of the U.S. Code, concerned with emergency response preparedness. (EPCRA EPCRA Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know Act EPCRA Estes Park Chamber Resort Association (now Estes Park Chamber of Commerce; Estes Park, Colorado, USA) ). The Administrative Complaint alleges that the company failed to submit a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets, see there ) and Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms for titanium dioxide to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC SERC - Science and Engineering Research Council ), the Local Emergency Planning Committee Local Emergency Planning Committees are quasi-governmental bodies, generally at the county or municipal level, in the United States. They do not function in actual emergency situations, but attempt to have identified and catalogued potential hazards and all sorts of resources, (LEPC LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee LEPC Law Enforcement Planning Commission LEPC Local Emergency Preparedness Committee LEPC Low Energy Pion Channel LEPC Local Emergency Preparedness Coordinator ), and the local fire department with jurisdiction over the facility. Also, it is alleged that the company failed to submit timely, complete, and correct reporting forms (Form R) for barium compounds for 1990 and 1992 and zinc compounds for 1990-1992. The Consent Agreement and Consent Order requires the company to pay a civil administrative penalty of $15,569 to the United States Treasury and undertake and complete, as Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), certain environmental improvements at its Morristown facility and purchase equipment for the Morristown/Hamblen County LEPC to enhance its emergency response capabilities. The improvements include: (1) building a containment area to reduce chemical losses to the environment; (2) the purchase and installation of a mechanical system to reduce discharges of particulates to Publicly Owned Treatment Works; (3) modification of the existing system to recover and recycle plastic pellets from processing water, thereby reducing chemical releases to the environment; and (4) installation of sensors in the baghouse airstream to detect ruptured bags. The cost of the SEPs is estimated at $91,528. EPCRA, in part, requires certain businesses to submit annual reports on the amounts, location, and potential effects of certain chemicals stored at their facilities and the total amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment, either accidentally or as a result of routine plant operations. These reports provide communities with information to prepare for and respond to emergencies involving hazardous compounds. CONTACT: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Atlanta
Charlie Cartwright, 404/347-1033, ext. 4229
Carl Terry, 404/347-3004, ext. 6755
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