EPA v. SNOWS ACQUISITION

Case summary

On Sept. 30, 2022, EPA Region 1 entered into an Expedited Settlement Agreement (ESA) with Snows Acquisition, LLC (Greenfield, Massachusetts), resolving a violation of Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act. This ESA is part of a nationally approved compliance and enforcement pilot under the CAA 112(r) General Duty Clause, which is designed to ensure that small ammonia refrigeration facilities (< 10,000 pounds) have completed process hazard reviews of their systems. The ESA requires payment of a $5,000 penalty and certification that the facility: 1) hired an expert to complete a Process Hazard Review, 2) coordinated with local emergency responders, 3) filed any missing Tier II forms, and 4) provided EPA with a short statement about plans it has to improve safety at the facility as a result of conducting the Process Hazard Review. Massachusetts is not delegated to implement this program. According to EPA's EJ Screen application, the Facility is not located in or near areas in which any of the EJ Indices or key demographic variables are at or above the 80th percentile nationally.

Defendants (1)

• Snows Acquisition, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SNOW'S ACQUISITION INC.

  80 SCHOOL STREET, GREENFIELD, MA, 01301

  Registry ID: 110071219664

Statutes cited

• CAA 112[R][1] — Prevention of Accidental Release/General Duty Clause

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SNOWS ACQUISITIONentered 2022-09-30

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $5,000

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2022-09-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2022-09-30Final Order Issued
• 2022-09-30Complaint Filed/Proposed Order