EPA v. StarKist Co. for StarKist Samoa Company

Case summary

The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reached a $6.5 million settlement with StarKist Co. and its subsidiary, Starkist Samoa Co., to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act Risk Management Program, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act at their tuna processing facility in American Samoa. Starkist will pay penalties of $2.6 million to American Samoa and $3.9 million to the United States. The company will also provide $88,000 in emergency equipment to American Samoa for responses to chemical releases as a Supplemental Environmental Project.

Defendants (1)

• StarKist Co.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• STAR-KIST SAMOA TUNA CANNERY

  MAIN ROAD, PAGO PAGO, AS, 96799

  Registry ID: 110045691391

Statutes cited

• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations
• CAA 112R — General Duty/Accidental Release
• EPCRA 312 — Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms
• EPCRA 313 — Toxic Chemical Release Reporting (TRI)
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• StarKist Co. for StarKist Samoa Companyentered 2018-03-07

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $3,900,000 · State/local: $2,600,000 · SEP: $88,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2015-09-25Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2015-09-29Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2016-09-15Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2017-09-12Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-12-22Final Order Lodged
• 2018-03-07Final Order Entered
• 2019-04-11Demand for Stipulated Penalties