EPA v. BULK CHEMICALS, INC.

Case summary

The Regional Judicial Officer issued a Final Order on September 15, 2022, accepting the Consent Agreement to commence and settle violations of CAA 112(r)(1). EPA determined that Bulk Chemicals, Inc., the current operator of a chemical manufacturing and distribution facility plant located at 72 Feick Avenue in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and the former operator of chemical manufacturing and distribution facilities located at 809 Mohrsville Road in Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania and 1076 Park Road in Blandon, Pennsylvania, had violated CAA Section 112(r)(1) at the three facilities because of its failure to ensure that oxidizers, corrosives, toxics, flammables and combustibles were stored safely in accordance with industry codes and standards. EPA conducted inspections of the three facilities after a nitric acid release and fire at the Shoemakersville Facility and issued an Administrative Compliance Order on Consent (Order) to Bulk Chemicals to retain a third-party contractor to assess compliance with industry codes and standards and to make improvements at the Blandon and Hamburg facilities to ensure chemicals were safely stored in order to improve public health and safety by decreasing the risk of releases of hazardous chemicals. Bulk Chemicals closed the Shoemakersville Facility prior to the Order and closed the Blandon facility during the course of the Order. Bulk Chemicals has complied with the Order. In settlement of the CAA 112(r) violations, Bulk Chemicals has agreed to pay a cash penalty of $85,000. The facilities are not located in environmental justice areas. Pennsylvania has been notified of the enforcement case but CAA 112(r)(1) is not delegable to the states.

Defendants (1)

• BULK CHEMICALS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• BULK CHEMICALS, INC.

  809 MOHRSVILLE ROAD, SHOEMAKERSVILLE, PA, 19555

  Registry ID: 110059127010

• BULK CHEMICALS, INC.

  72 FEICK AVE, HAMBURG, PA, 19526

  Registry ID: 110070624414

• BULK CHEMICALS, INC.

  809 MOHRSVILLE ROAD, SHOEMAKERSVILLE, PA, 19555

  Registry ID: 110059127010

Statutes cited

• CAA 112[R][1] — Prevention of Accidental Release/General Duty Clause
• CAA 112[R][7] — Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BULK CHEMICALS, INC.entered 2022-09-15

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $85,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2022-09-15Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2022-09-15Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2022-09-15Final Order Issued
• 2022-09-21Enforcement Action Closed