The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on August 18 announced that Maxima Technologies & Systems LLC has settled alleged violations of toxic chemical reporting requirements at its plant on Rohrerstown Road in Lancaster, Pa.
EPA cited the company for violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), which requires companies that manufacture, use or produce more than a threshold amount of listed toxic chemicals to file an annual toxic chemical release form with EPA and the state. Companies must also report both routine and accidental releases of toxic chemicals, as well as the maximum amount of any listed chemicals at the facility and the amount contained in wastes transferred off-site.
These reports are used to compile the annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), a publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemicals and releases.
In July 2009, EPA inspected Maxima’s Lancaster facility to evaluate its compliance with EPCRA regulations. EPA alleges that during 2007 and 2008, the facility processed lead in quantities that exceeded the reporting thresholds for lead and failed to file the required reports.
EPA compiles the TRI data submitted by regulated facilities each year and makes the data available through several web-based tools, including TRI Explorer, TRI.NET, and Envirofacts.
The goal of TRI is to provide citizens with information about toxic chemical releases and waste management activities in their communities. The data is also useful to all levels of industry, government, non-governmental organizations, and the public in planning and decision making.
In a consent agreement with EPA, Maxima Technologies & Systems has agreed to pay a $35,394 civil penalty for failing to file required annual reports. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s cooperation with EPA’s investigation of these alleged violations and its compliance efforts.
For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/tri/.