Updated at 1:23 p.m., Wednesday, August 22, 2007
EPA fines two Hawaii firms for reporting violations
Advertiser Staff
Two Hawai'i companies will each be required to pay $2,000 fines to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a result of chemical inventory reporting violations, the federal agency announced today.The EPA recently settled with Backhoe & Excavation Services Inc. of Kihei, Maui, and Rolloffs Hawaii Inc. of Honolulu. The two were cited for failing to submit their chemical inventory reports by the required deadline.
Keith Takata, director for the EPA Pacific Southwest region's Superfund Division, said the paperwork is important."Chemical inventories inform workers, the community and first responders what chemicals may be present in case of an accidental spill," Takata said.
"Both Hawaii companies have since submitted their chemical inventories," he said.
Backhoe & Excavation Services Inc. failed to submit their chemical inventory by the required March 2007 deadline and was fined $2,000. Rolloffs Hawaii Inc., also fined $2,000, failed to submit its chemical inventory by the required March deadline in 2005, 2006 and 2007 as required by Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
Both companies settled under the agency's expedited settlement agreement policy with reduced penalties.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act requires facilities covered by the act to submit annual reports on the amounts of hazardous chemicals their facility uses or stores. The State Emergency Response Commission, Local Emergency Planning Committees, and Fire Departments use the information submitted to them in order to plan for chemical releases that may be the result of individual incidents or of natural disasters.
