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SOUTHINGTON METAL FIRM TO PAY ENVIRONMENTAL FINE

Release Date: 07/02/1996
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA-New England Press Office; (617) 918-1064

BOSTON - The New England regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) settled its administrative enforcement action against Ideal Forging Corporation of Southington, Connecticut for violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Under the terms of the settlement, the company agrees to pay a $30,000 penalty and to conduct an environmental compliance audit and a site assessment at its metal forging facility for the manufacture of plumbing fixtures and valves.

In its enforcement action, EPA alleged that the company had failed to have an oil spill prevention plan for its facility. These plans are an essential component of a company's strategy for preventing and containing oil spills. EPA also alleged that there had been an illegal spill of oil at the facility into the Quinnipiac River and that the company had failed to adequately respond to EPA information requests.

"The Quinnipiac River is an environmentally sensitive ecosystem that EPA has targeted for enforcement activities," said John DeVillars, Regional Administrator for EPA's New England regional office. "Businesses located in ecologically sensitive areas need strict pollution prevention plans to avoid damaging environmental resources. EPA will continue to take strong enforcement action against facilities that fail to take the legally required precautions mandated by the Clean Water Act or to adequately report to EPA."