Los Angeles-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has disclosed that GATX Corp. has agreed to pay a $5,000 penalty and donate a $20,700 mercury analyzer for failure to immediately notify authorities of the 2008 release of ammonia at the GATX Colton, Calif., railcar repair facility. According to EPA, GATX delayed reporting the Sept. 9, 2008, release of 250 pounds of ammonia from the facility that was caused when an employee failed to follow company procedures for flaring ammonia from a tank car. “Companies such as the GATX Corp. may understand the importance of providing accurate and timely information about chemical releases, but they must take steps to make sure that happens, so emergency planners and responders can adequately prepare to protect their communities,” said Daniel Meer, assistant director for the EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Superfund program. The ammonia release was first reported to the Colton Fire Department by employees of a nearby railroad facility. In violation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), GATX failed to report the release to the National Response Center until more than 30 hours later. GATX also violated the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act by failing to immediately report this release to the California Emergency Management Agency for the State Emergency Response Commission. GATX has since taken steps to ensure its procedures are followed and installed equipment to prevent any similar releases in the future, EPA said.
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