All News Releases By Date

U.S. EPA FINES TWO CITY OF INDUSTRY COMPANIES FOR RIGHT-TO-KNOW VIOLATIONS

Release Date: 11/18/1999
Contact Information: Randy Wittorp, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1589

     SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined two companies in City of Industry, Calif., for allegedly failing to file reports estimating their releases of toxic chemical compounds, a violation of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.  

     Dairy Holdings, formerly known as Alta-Dena Certified Dairy, was fined $71,240.00 and Cacique was fined $74,490, both for failing to properly report their releases of phosphoric acid and nitric acid to the environment between 1994 and 1997.

     An EPA inspector discovered the violations during a routine inspection in 1999.

     "Companies working with hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to their employees and the surrounding neighborhood to report chemical releases," said Enrique Manzanilla, the EPA's regional Cross Media Division director. "EPA is maintaining a close watch over chemical reporting practices."
               
     Federal law requires certain facilities with ten or more employees using chemicals over certain amounts to file annual reports of chemical releases with the EPA and the state. The reports estimate the amounts of each toxic chemical released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site, or transferred off-site for waste management.  Information is then compiled into a national database and made available to the public.  

     Each year the EPA publishes a report entitled the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Public Data Release, which summarizes the prior years submissions and provides detailed trend analysis of toxic chemical releases.  More information on the program can be obtained by calling (800) 535-0202.  The EPA's environmental databases, including TRI data, can also be accessed via the Internet at: www.epa.gov/enviro .