San Francisco-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says Sacramento-based Tony’s Fine Foods, which provides perishable foods distribution services, has agreed on a $93,533 penalty for the release of approximately 360 gallons of anhydrous ammonia in October 2008 that caused the evacuation of four nearby schools and nearly 30 Yuba City, Calif., residents. EPA said the release occurred at Tony’s California Cold Logistics cold storage warehouse. A second incident took place earlier this month at the same site when 35 gallons of ammonia were illegally discharged into a storm drain. Such practice is prohibited under the federal Clean Water Act. The discharge was detected by residents several blocks away, and when the fire department responded the strong smell eventually led investigators to the plant. “The inadequate controls exercised by this facility resulted in unacceptable discharges of toxic pollutants to Gilsizer Slough, which flows to the Sutter Bypass and the Feather River,” said Alexis Strauss, regional director of EPA’s water division in San Francisco. In both instances, Tony’s Fine Foods failed to notify authorities immediately following its chemical releases. EPA inspectors have provided facility representatives with information on release reporting requirements, and they say that compliance with reporting requirements has been achieved, along with operational improvements to prevent future discharges.
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