EPA v. Central Grocers Inc. (Joliet) ESA

Case summary

On July 25, 2012, an authorized EPA representative conducted a compliance inspection of the General Grocers, Inc., Joliet, Illinois refrigerated warehouse (Facility) to determine its compliance with the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations pursuant to Section 112(r)(7) of the Clean Air Act. Based on that inspection, USEPA has determined that Respondent violated the following regulations: 1. Respondent failed to document the individuals responsible for implementing the individual requirements of the RMP regulations; 2. Respondent failed to provide copies of the operating procedures to the contractor’s employees who work to maintain the refrigeration system; 3. Respondent failed to provide training to the operators on the operating procedures; 4. Respondent failed to establish written procedures to maintain the ongoing integrity of the refrigeration system; 5. Respondent failed to adequately document each inspection and test that had been performed on the ammonia system; and 6. Respondent failed to obtain and evaluate contractor’s safety performance and programs. In consideration of the Respondent’s size of business, its full compliance history, its good faith efforts to comply, USEPA and Central Grocers, Inc. entered into an Expedited Settlement Agreement (ESA) in the public interest and without the filing of a complaint. The parties entered into this ESA in order to resolve any civil penalties for those alleged violations for the total penalty amount of $1,980.00. The Central Grocers facility accepted this agreement, certifies that all violations were corrected and paid a $1,980.00 penalty to the U.S. Treasury.

Defendants (1)

• Central Grocers Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• CENTRAL GROCERS, INC.

  2600 WEST HAVEN ROAD, JOLIET, IL, 60433

  Registry ID: 110038363927

• CENTRAL GROCERS, INC.

  2600 WEST HAVEN ROAD, JOLIET, IL, 60433

  Registry ID: 110038363927

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Central Grocers Inc. (Joliet) ESAentered 2014-09-09

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $1,980

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2014-09-09Compliance Achieved
• 2014-09-09Final Order Issued
• 2014-09-09Enforcement Action Closed
• 2014-09-09Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2014-09-09Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2014-09-09Pipeline Closed