EPA v. CLARIANT CORPORATION

Case summary

9/5/08 - CONSENT AGMT AND FINAL ORDER ISSUED, ASSESSING A PENALTY OF $9,000, DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS. ALLEGATIONS: ON AUGUST 21, 2007, RESPONDENT DISCHARGED 933 GALLONS OF AN OIL MIXTURE, INCLUDING 54.8 PERCENT COCO HYDROGENATED FATTY ACID, FROM ITS FACILITY INTO OR UPON DUTCHMAN'S CREEK AND THE CATAWBA RIVER. THE RELEASE WAS CAUSED WHEN OPERATOR ERROR CAUSED THE DISCHARGE BY THE OVER-PRESSURIZATION OF A CHEMICAL REACTOR THAT ALLOWED THE COCO HYDROGENATED FATTY ACID TO BE RELEASED THROUGH THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE ON TOP OF THE REACTOR, IN THE AIR, AND THEN ONTO THE SURFACE OF DUTCHMAN'S CREEK AND THE CATAWBA RIVER.

Defendants (1)

• CLARIANT CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CLARIANT CORPORATION

  625 E. CATAWBA AVE., MOUNT HOLLY, NC, 28120

  Registry ID: 110000348687

Statutes cited

• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CLARIANT CORPORATIONentered 2008-09-05

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $9,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2008-09-05Final Order Issued
• 2008-09-05Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2008-09-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2008-09-26Enforcement Action Closed