Region 10 News Release: Kent Plastics Co. fined $46,000 for Chemical Reporting Violations

Kent Plastics Co. fined $46,000 for Chemical Reporting Violations

Contact Info: Graham Kirn, EPA Toxics Release Inventory Program, (206) 553-5810, kirn.graham@epa.gov
Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, (206) 553-1203, brown.anthony@epa.gov

(Seattle – May 6, 2010) Berry Plastics Corporation has settled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and agreed to pay a $46,060 penalty for violations of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act at its Kent, Washington facility. The company failed to report its use of toxic glycol ethers to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The company manufactures plastic bags for bakery goods and frozen foods.

The company failed to promptly submit Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Reports to EPA and the State of Washington for its use of glycol ethers in 2004, 2005, and 2007. After EPA notified Berry Plastics of the missing reports, the company filed the outstanding reports with both EPA and Washington State.

“The Toxics Release Inventory provides the public with valuable information about toxic chemicals being used and released in their communities,” said Rick Albright, the Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste and Toxics in Seattle. “When companies fail to submit complete and timely reports, the value of TRI to the public is substantially reduced.”

Chronic exposure to glycol ethers may result in neurological and blood effects, including fatigue, nausea, tremors, and anemia.

For additional information about the Toxics Release Inventory Program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/tri/

For more about toxic effects of glycol ethers, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/glycolet.html

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