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Connecticut Company Fined for PCB Violations

Release Date: 03/12/2001
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, EPA Press Office (617-918-1013) Matthew Fritz, Connecticut DEP Press Office (860-424-4117

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has filed an administrative complaint against a Caanan, Conn. firm for six violations relating to unauthorized disposal and inadequate storage of PCBs which were discovered by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) last year. Penalties proposed for the complaints total $192,000.

Minteq International Inc., of Daisy Hill Road in Caanan, specializes in the processing and sale of lime and other mineral products. The company first came to the attention of DEP last winter after a spill of oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls – or PCBs – at the plant. The oil is used as a lubricant in Minteq's vacuum pump system. Such use is prohibited.

Connecticut inspectors went to Minteq on six occasions between February and May 2000 and found the company in violation of federal Toxic Substance Control Act, including the continued and unauthorized use and disposal of PCBs. Inspectors also found the company was improperly storing PCBs.

Connecticut's inspections showed Minteq was not committing enough resources to meet its environmental obligations and the violations could have meant the release of more PCBs into the environment.

"Minteq's failure to properly handle PCBs caused a significant release of the PCBs to the environment," said Connecticut DEP Commissioner Arthur J. Rocque, Jr. "DEP required the initial clean-up and will ensure additional steps are taken to determine the extent of contamination created by the spill and that all necessary cleanup is undertaken to restore the natural resources of the area."

In all, six violations were discovered during inspections of the plant. The breakdown and costs for the violations are: unauthorized use of PCBs, $22,000; improper disposal of PCBs, $138,600; failure to date PCB containers, $11,000; failure to remove PCB containers within one year, $1,100; failure to obtain an EPA identification number for PCB storage containers, $5,500; failure to properly mark a PCB storage area, $14,300.

"PCBs are considered probable carcinogens, and laws regulating this toxic material are meant to protect the public's health and the environment," said Ira Leighton , acting regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "This action will serve as a reminder that PCBs must be handled, stored and disposed of properly."

In addition, Leighton applauded the cooperative efforts of Connecticut and federal environmental officials in this case. "We all must work together – state and federal officials and the public – to ensure a healthy and safe environment," he said.

The production of PCBs has been banned for decades, but the substance remains in use as a non-conductive, fire-resistant additive to coolant liquids or oil for heavy electrical equipment. PCBs released into the environment during a fire can be volatilized and converted into even more toxic materials such as dioxin. PCBs are probable carcinogens and are known causes of liver ailments and chloracne, a persistent skin rash.