EPA v. HANCOCK FOODS

Case summary

On September 30, 2014, EPA Region 1 issued an administrative compliance order to Hancock Foods, Inc. for violating the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Planning (RMP) regulations at its blueberry processing plant in Hancock, ME. The facility uses anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant for process chilling and warehouse cooling. After providing the company with a draft Notice of Violation and Administrative Order (NOV and AO), the company corrected many of the deficiencies found during EPA’s October 2012 inspection. Accordingly, the final AO requires completion of outstanding compliance activities, such as reinsulating piping. The AO reserves EPA’s right to seek penalties for these violations. The facility itself is not in an area warranting further environmental justice review, but a worst-case release of ammonia from the plant could affect areas that merit environmental justice review

Defendants (1)

• HANCOCK FOODSNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• HANCOCK FOODS INC

  37 WYMAN ROAD, HANCOCK, ME, 04640

  Registry ID: 110054901825

Statutes cited

• CAA 112[R][7] — Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HANCOCK FOODSentered 2014-09-30

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2014-09-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2014-09-30Final Order Issued