EPA’s RMP and the West Coast – Violations Stacking Up!
EPA – RMP – Violations – Ammonia
The citations and violation news has been quiet for some time now, and that is a good thing. Looks like things are about to change or have been changing in the last year.
We have one last PSM/RMP and CalARP for 2022 in a few weeks @ Bakersfield, CA. Enroll today at this link
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Saputo Cheese Agrees to $170,000 Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations – EPA RMP Violation
- An accident at the facility on June 22, 2018, led to the release of 5,690 pounds of anhydrous ammonia.
- EPA performed an inspection of the Saputo Cheese facility in 2019 and found that the company failed to correct corrosion on piping and structural supports
- Failed to demonstrate that safety vents met industry standards.
- EPA also found the company did not accurately report the total amount of ammonia it manages and failed to comply with requirements related to planning for accidental releases.
- EPA found that safety improvements were necessary at the facility to help prevent future accidents.
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Grimmway Enterprises, Inc to pay $214,000 Penalty for Violations of Clean Air Act & Emergency Notification Requirements – EPA RMP Violation
- On August 2, 2019, approximately 2,335 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, which is designated as an Extremely Hazardous Substance, were released at Grimmway’s Arvin facility.
- Grimmway failed to notify state emergency authorities and the National Response Center immediately after the release.
- The inspection also revealed that Grimmway did not have required safety information for equipment, such as pressure relief valves; lacked required safety equipment, such as sensors or alarms; was missing some required operating procedures for its ammonia refrigeration equipment and failed to have procedures in place to notify the appropriate agencies about chemical releases.
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Ventura Coastal Agrees to $270,000 Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations at Visalia Facility – EPA RMP Violation
- On May 21, 2019, EPA inspected the Visalia facility
- EPA found that the company failed to keep up-to-date information on equipment
- Failed to label piping and equipment
- Did not adequately describe maintenance and inspection frequencies for equipment and instrumentation
- Failed to inspect equipment and correct deficiencies
- Did not address internal audit and incident investigation findings in a timely manner
- Reddy Ice settles with EPA for $182,000
- EPA determined that Reddy Ice failed to properly design its refrigeration system to comply with applicable design codes and standards
- Maintain inspection and testing records on certain equipment
- Correct engineering control deficiencies related to ammonia detectors, emergency exhaust fans, and alarms
- Did not act upon compliance audit findings.
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Smithfield and Clougherty Packing, LLC will pay $237,537 in civil penalties for Clean Air Act Violations – EPA RMP Violation
- Failure to identify hazards associated with the discharge of emergency exhaust pipes and pressure relief valves.
- Failure to repair a malfunctioning ammonia sensor and replace damaged or missing insulation, properly seal doors, protect electrical equipment, replace corroded piping and equipment, and properly label the facility’s process and emergency equipment.
- Failure to maintain adequate process safety information for the facility’s alarms, process equipment and emergency ventilation system.
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Smith Frozen Foods to pay $100,000 – EPA RMP Violation
- Respondent had failed to compile complete process safety information regarding safe upper and lower limits for such items as temperatures, pressures, flows or compositions pertaining to the technology
- Respondent had failed to compile complete process safety information pertaining to the electrical classification
- Respondent had failed to compile complete process safety information pertaining to the relief system design and design basis of equipment
- Respondent had failed to compile complete process safety information pertaining to the ventilation system design of equipment
- Respondent had failed to document that equipment in the Weston Facility Process complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices
- Respondent had failed to develop and implement written operating procedures providing clear instructions for safely operating Compressor BC-14, Compressor BC-34, Freezer Tunnel No. 6 and Freezer Tunnel No. 10, which are part of the Weston Facility Process
