EPA v. INVISTA

Case summary

On April 14, 2009, pursuant to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (the EPA’s) policy entitled “Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and Prevention of Violations,” 65 Fed. Reg. 19,618 (Audit Policy), the EPA and INVISTA S.à r.l. (INVISTA) entered into an Audit Agreement. The Audit Agreement required INVISTA to conduct third-party audits of compliance with the regulations promulgated or authorized by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601-2629. INVISTA disclosed to the EPA potential TSCA violations that occurred at the 17 facilities subject to the Audit Agreement, disclosed violations included: 1. Failure to submit an application for exemption from testing as required by Section 4 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. § 2603, and 40 C.F.R. Parts 790 and 799. 2. Failure to list chemical substances prior to manufacturing or importation on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, as required by Section 5 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. § 2604, and 40 C.F.R. Parts 720, 721, and 723. 3. Failure to provide information to EPA, as required by Section 8 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. § 2607 and 40 C.F.R. Parts 710, 712, 716 and 717. 4. Failure to provide notice of a chemical substance which may provide a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment, as required by Section 8 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. § 2607 and guidance issued January 12, 2005 (68 FR 33,129). 5. Failure to meet import certification requirements, as required by Section 13 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. § 2612 and 40 C.F.R. Section 707.20(c). 6. Failure to provide export notice for a chemical substance for which information was required, as required by Section 12 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. § 2611, and 40 C.F.R. Part 707. 7. Failure to meet storage, reporting and recording keeping required for PCBs, as required by 15 U.S.C. §2605 and 40 C.F.R Part 761. Relying on the facts and statements presented in the above-referenced audit agreement and certified reports, the EPA determined that these disclosures meet the conditions of the Audit Policy and the Audit Agreement, and that no further action and no assessment of civil penalties is warranted.

Defendants (1)

• INVISTA S.à r.1.Named in settlement

Facilities (29)

• INVISTA S.├Á R.L. WAYNESBORO

  400 DUPONT BLVD., WAYNESBORO, VA, 229809998

  Registry ID: 110000341504

• INVISTA S.A.R.L.

  3 LITTLE FALLS CENTRE, 2801 CENTERVILLE ROAD, WILMINGTON, DE, 19808

  Registry ID: 110044866482

• E I DUPONT DE NEMOURS CHATTANOOGA PLANT

  4501 N ACCESS RD, CHATTANOOGA, TN, 37415-3816

  Registry ID: 110000590012

• INVISTA SA RL - LA PORTE PL ANT

  12455 STRANG RD, LA PORTE, TX, 77571

  Registry ID: 110017874736

• INVISTA TM - CALHOUN

  220 BOLING IND WAY, CALHOUN, GA, 30701

  Registry ID: 110066984320

• INVISTA INC - MARTINSVILLE

  1000 DUPONT ROAD, MARTINSVILLE, VA, 24112

  Registry ID: 110002378276

• INVISTA S.├Á R.L. WAYNESBORO

  400 DUPONT BLVD., WAYNESBORO, VA, 229809998

  Registry ID: 110000341504

• INVISTA WILMINGTON

  4600 US HWY 421 N, WILMINGTON, NC, 28401

  Registry ID: 110007116101

• INVISTA WILMINGTON

  4600 US HWY 421 N, WILMINGTON, NC, 28401

  Registry ID: 110007116101

• INV NYLON CHEMICALS AMERICAS VICTORIA SITE

  2695 OLD BLOOMINGTON RD N, VICTORIA, TX, 77905-1840

• INV NYLON CHEMICALS AMERICAS - ORANGE SITE

  3055A, ORANGE, TX, 77630

  Registry ID: 110022523982

• INVISTA WILMINGTON

  4600 US HWY 421 N, WILMINGTON, NC, 28401

  Registry ID: 110007116101

• INVISTA WILMINGTON

  4600 US HWY 421 N, WILMINGTON, NC, 28401

  Registry ID: 110007116101

• INVISTA S.A.R.L.

  643 HIGHWAY 1 S, LUGOFF, SC, 29078-9174

  Registry ID: 110000587179

• INVISTA S.A.R.L.

  175 TOWNPARK DRIVE NW #200, KENNESAW, GA, 30144

  Registry ID: 110044866393

• …and 14 more

Statutes cited

• TSCA 8E — Failure To Comply With Substance Risk
• TSCA 5H — Failure To Comply With New Chemical
• TSCA 5A/5B — Failure To Comply With Significant New Use Rules and Pre-manufacture Notice
• TSCA 8 — Reporting & Retention of Information
• TSCA 6-PCBS — PCBS
• TSCA 4 — Testing of Chemical Substances and Mixtures
• TSCA 8B — Failure To Comply With Invention Update Rule
• TSCA 13 — Entry into Customs Territory of the U.S.
• TSCA 8C — Failure To Comply With Allegations Of Significant Adverse Reactions Record & Reporting Rule
• TSCA 12 — Exports

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• INVISTAentered 2011-10-21

  Primary law: TSCA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2011-10-21Final Order Issued
• 2011-10-26Enforcement Action Data Entered