EPA v. MERIDEN CITY OF

Case summary

On September 30, 2015, Region 1 filed a consent agreement and final order resolving Clean Air Act penalty claims against the City of Meriden, Connecticut (Meriden). Meriden�s operation of its water treatment facility violated the CAA by failing to comply with the Risk Management Plan (RMP) requirements of 40 C.F.R. Part 68. At the time of the matters addressed in the pre-file negotiation, Meriden was storing up to 11,750 pounds of chlorine gas, an extremely hazardous substance, in the chlorine tank room of its water treatment facility but had failed to properly implement an RMP. In 2014, Meriden voluntarily expended $17 million to substitute sodium hypochlorite for chlorine gas at its facility. Sodium hypochlorite is a much less hazardous material than chlorine gas. As a result of this substitution, Meriden is no longer subject to the RMP regulations. Pursuant to the settlement, Meriden will perform a Supplemental Environmental Project costing approximately $144,000 and pay a civil penalty of $10,000 to resolve liability for the CAA violations.

Defendants (1)

• CITY OF MERIDENNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• MERIDEN BROAD BROOK FILTRATION PLANT

  1285 SOUTH MERIDEN ROAD, CHESHIRE, CT, 06410-1833

  Registry ID: 110000524148

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MERIDEN CITY OFentered 2015-09-29

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $10,000 · SEP: $144,000

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2015-09-29Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2015-09-29Final Order Issued
• 2015-10-01Enforcement Action Data Entered