EPA v. Tyson Fresh Meats (Logansport) CAFO

Case summary

This enforcement action was filed in response to an anhydrous ammonia release which occurred at the Logansport facility on 4/28/2008. Tyson employees decided to purge air from their system by opening valves. They had assumed that most of the purge gas would be air and not ammonia and that the purge process would be of short duration. They vented the system for over 7 hours - releasing 3,923 lbs of ammonia (39 times the RQ). Notifications to the NRC, Indiana SERC and their LEPC were done over 4 hours after knowledge of the release.

Defendants (1)

• Tyson Fresh Meats (Springdale, AR)Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• TYSON FRESH MEATS, INC.

  2125 S. COUNTY RD 125W, LOGANSPORT, IN, 46947

  Registry ID: 110000401538

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 103A — Notification of Hazardous Reportable Quantity Release
• EPCRA 304 — Emergency Release Notification Section 313 Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Tyson Fresh Meats (Logansport) CAFOentered 2011-02-23

  Primary law: EPCRA

  Federal penalty: $63,375

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2011-02-23Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2011-02-23Final Order Issued
• 2011-03-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2011-03-04Enforcement Action Closed
• 2011-03-04Pipeline Closed