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U.S. EPA, Sacramento Company Settle Case For $5,388

Release Date: 2/3/2003
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, 415/947-4306

     SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined a Sacramento insulation manufacturer $5,388 for allegedly failing to file timely, complete and correct reports estimating its releases of a toxic chemical, a violation of federal community right- to-know laws.  

     Greenfiber and and its predecessor and partial owner Greenstone Industries will pay the penalty for failing to properly report its releases of C.I. Basic Green 4 to the environment in 1999 and 2000.  C.I. Basic Green, a material used as a dye, was processed at the facility.

    ACompanies working with hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to their employees and the surrounding neighborhood to report chemical releases,@ said Enrique Manzanilla,  EPA=s regional Cross Media Division director. AEPA 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 year's 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 via the Internet at: www.epa.gov/enviro.  Further information about the TRI program can be found at: www.epa.gov/opptinitr/tri.