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EPA Settles Toxic Chemical Reporting Violations Case With Connecticut Company; $14,000 Penalty to be Paid

Release Date: 02/19/2002
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1013

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has settled a case with the Exmet Corp. of Naugatuck, Conn. for using a toxic chemical in its manufacturing process without reporting its use as required by federal regulations.

The company will pay a penalty of $14,874 and comply with the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

In a complaint filed in December 2001, EPA alleged that from 1996 through 1999 the company used over 10,000 pounds per year of dichloromethane, a toxic chemical, but did not report its use as required by EPCRA.

"When it comes to using toxic chemicals, companies need to make sure they are following their obligations to report what chemicals they are using and how they are using them," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England office. "These right-to-know reports give local citizens valuable information on chemicals being used in their communities."

Exmet manufactures expanded metals, such as screens and grating, etc., for sale to light and heavy industrial markets worldwide. The company uses dichloromethane as a degreaser in its operations.

The Toxics Release Inventory provisions of EPCRA require companies that use over a threshold amount of certain toxic chemicals to file annual reports listing quantities of reportable chemicals released to air, water and land. The Toxics Release Inventory is one of EPA's primary tools in tracking and reducing releases of toxic chemicals. The use threshold for dichloromethane is 10,000 pounds per year.

For more information about EPCRA, visit: www.epa.gov/region1/assistance/emerplan/index.html