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EPA Waives $238,555 in Penalties After Four Pennsylvania Companies Self-Disclose Environmental Violations

Release Date: 10/3/2001
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113

Contact: Donna Heron 215-814-5113
 PHILADELPHIA – Four Pennsylvania companies have saved $238,555 in penalties by voluntarily reporting and correcting their own environmental violations.

In making the announcement, Regional Deputy Administrator Thomas Voltaggio said that EPA regularly collects substantial penalties from businesses for violations similar to those reported by these four companies.

“Companies that voluntarily report and rectify environmental violations help protect the environment, as well as their bottom line. EPA will continue to make appropriate penalty adjustments for companies that voluntarily police their own regulatory compliance,” Voltaggio said.

EPA is waiving $238,555 in total penalties against the following companies.

* Armstrong World Industries of Lancaster, Pa. disclosed a failure to submit required notifications to local and state emergency response agencies about its storage of several hazardous chemicals (carbon dioxide, sodium hydroxide, coal, compounded vinyl, PVC/PVS copolymer resin, stainless steel, steel, sulfuric acid, vinyl acetate monomer, and zinc metal). EPA waived a potential $115,885 penalty for these reporting violations.

* Con-Lime, Inc. of Bellefonte, Pa., reported its failure to file required reports on lead compounds stored at its facility from1997 through 1999. Penalty waiver: $16,500.

* Mathews Marble Manufacturing Inc., a plastic resins products manufacturer in Bridgeport, Pa., reported a failure to file required reports on styrene for 1998 and 1999. Penalty waiver: $8,420.

*Southco Inc. of Concordville, Pa. reported that an environmental audit revealed a failure to send required reports on hazardous chemicals (manufacturing and lubricating oils) to local and state emergency response officials. Penalty waiver: $97,750.

These companies performed voluntary environmental compliance audits, and promptly reported and corrected the violations discovered by those audits. EPA concluded that the reported violations did not involve significant environmental harm or knowing violations of the law.

EPA acted under policies that substantially reduce, and often eliminate, penalties for violations discovered and corrected by a company. These policies do not apply to criminal violations, or violations resulting in significant harm to public health or the environment.
As of September, 2001, 134 companies in EPA’s mid-Atlantic region have disclosed environmental violations at more than 140 facilities. EPA’s regional office has reduced or waived nearly $3 million in penalties under the audit policy.

EPA’s audit policy is posted at www.epa.gov/oeca/auditpol.html. For more information on environmental audits and compliance assistance, visit www.epa.gov/reg3ecej

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