Two firms face $33,000 ammonia violation fines

Seattle, Wash.-Two Washington anhydrous ammonia fertilizer distributors have agreed to pay over $33,000 for failing to update their plans for preventing chemical releases at eight facilities throughout the state, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. AG Link, Inc. will pay $13,521 and Colfax Grange Supply Co. Inc. will pay $19,986 to settle alleged violations of the risk management provisions of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA said in October 2009 it discovered that AG Link, Colfax, and their eight facilities located at Almira, Davenport, Edwall, Coulee City, Reardan, Colfax, Wilbur, and Steptoe, Wash., failed to update their risk management practices at least every five years as required by the CAA. The facilities store more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, which exceeds the threshold quantity that triggers federal planning requirements. According to Wally Moon, EPA’s prevention team leader for EPA’s Emergency Response program in Seattle, having a solid prevention program in place can help a facility keep a dangerous situation under control if a workplace accident occurs. “Companies with large amounts of ammonia on-site must have a solid, comprehensive leak prevention program in place,” said Moon. “They have a responsibility to protect workers, emergency responders, and the community to make sure a serious accident doesn’t occur.”