EPA (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency) plans tough fines for chemical spills

Journal Article · Mon Mar 13 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

OSTI ID:5099355

The EPA has announced a program that would penalize water polluters, even for accidental spills, with up to one year in jail and civil penalties as high as $5 million and enable the government to recover cleanup costs of up to $50 million from spillers of chemicals. According to EPA administrator D. M. Costle, there would be no liability limits for cleanup costs in cases of willful negligence, and the EPA proposals are intended to prevent negligence and to require companies to report spills to the EPA. The proposed regulations would apply to any facility or vehicle that could possibly spill a chemical into a waterway, including chemical plants, storage sites, trucks, trains, and vessels. EPA has established an initial list of 271 ''hazardous'' chemicals commonly used or produced by industry, and will add more chemicals later. Each chemical has been assessed a ''rate of penalty'' based on the compound's potential toxicological and environmental hazards. Thus, an ammonium bicarbonate spill would be penalized at $0.10/lb, but an acrolein spill would be fined at $880/lb. Chemical handlers who made good faith efforts to minimize the damage from a spill may be able to reduce the penalties the agency imposes. The regulations should go into effect in 90 days.

• OSTI ID: 5099355
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 56:11; ISSN CENEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520600 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Regulations -- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHARGES
CHEMICAL SPILLS
CONTROL
COST
LIABILITIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL