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U.S. EPA FINES TWO SOUTHLAND COMPANIES FOR FAILING TO REPORT CHEMICAL RELEASES

Release Date: 5/22/2000
Contact Information: Sonia Altieri, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1588

     SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined two southern California companies 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.  

     "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."

Kirkhill Rubber Company
     Kirkhill Rubber Company of Brea, Calif., will pay a civil penalty of  $35,700 for failing to file reports estimating releases of friable asbestos, zinc compounds and di-2(ethylhexyl) pthalates to the environment in 1995.  The alleged violations were discovered during a routine inspection.

     Asbestos provides insulation in Kirkhill products that are used in the NASA space shuttle.  Zinc compounds acts as a vulcanizer in rubber products and di- 2(ethylhexyl) pthalates are common oil plasticizers which provide flexibility in rubber.

Mission Kleensweep Products
     Mission Kleensweep Products, located in Los Angeles, has been fined $13,183 for allegedly failing to properly report its releases of glycol ethers and phosphoric acid for 1996 and 1997. An EPA inspector discovered the violations during a routine inspection in 1999.

     Federal law requires certain facilities with ten or more employees using chemicals 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 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 U.S. EPA's environmental databases, including TRI data, can also be accessed at www.epa.gov/enviro .  Further information about the TRI program can be found at www.epa.gov/tri .