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Seattle plating company pays $60,000 penalty for improper spill reporting

Release Date: 04/19/2010
Contact Information: Suzanne Powers, EPA CERCLA Program, (360) 753-9475, [email protected], Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, (206) 553-1203, [email protected]

(Seattle – April 19, 2010) Under an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a Seattle metal finishing service company will pay a $60,000 penalty for failing to immediately report a 50,000 gallon spill of hazardous wastewater and sludge.

The settlement is related to a March 28, 2008 release at the Industrial Plating Corp. (IPC) facility located at 2411 South Sixth Ave. A wooden storage tank holding wastewater and sludge ruptured, releasing the contents onto the street and into the storm drains. No known injuries occurred as result of the release.

In the agreement, EPA alleges that IPC failed to notify the appropriate emergency response entities for more than three hours after the release occurred. The release and failure to notify appropriate agencies immediately are violations of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

According to Edward Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle, these laws help communities prepare for and respond to chemical accidents.

"Effective emergency response begins with timely notification, which allows local, state and federal responders to plan and to take action to protect public health and safety.” said Kowalski.

IPC operated an electroplating, polishing, and anodizing (metal finishing services) manufacturer.

For information on EPA's Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, visit https://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/epcra/epcraenfstatreq.html
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