Seattle — Oregon Potato Co. is being assessed a $66,235 penalty by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to report the release of approximately 300 pounds of anhydrous ammonia at the company’s facility in Warden, Wash., on July 2, 2009. The leak occurred when a circuit breaker failed, causing a pressure relief valve to open and release the anhydrous ammonia. EPA alleges that Oregon Potato failed to immediately notify local and state agencies about the release. While no injuries were reported at the time of the incident, EPA points out that ammonia can cause serious injury or death. The ammonia release and the failure to notify appropriate agencies are violations of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). According to Wally Moon, EPA preparedness and prevention unit manager in Seattle, these cases are about protecting workers, emergency responders, and the community. “When unintended chemical releases occur, every minute counts if it is an emergency,” commented EPA’s Moon. “Emergency responders need to be notified promptly to react effectively.”
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