Kansas Ethanol Producer Agrees to Pay Penalty for Alleged Environmental Law Violations | US EPA
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LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 18, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will collect a $12,234 penalty from ethanol producer Pratt Energy LLC to resolve alleged violations of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
EPA says that the company failed to submit required annual reports listing releases of toxic chemicals at the company’s facility in Pratt, Kansas. As part of the settlement with EPA, the company also agreed to purchase emergency response equipment for local responders.
“Communities have a right to know about toxic chemicals in their area,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “Failure to report such data also prevents governments and industry from using this important information for research and in the development of regulations, guidelines, and air quality standards.”
EPA’s review of Pratt Energy’s records showed that the company manufactured, processed, or otherwise used quantities of toxic chemicals above thresholds that require the company to submit annual reports to EPA. But the company failed to timely submit reports for the toxic chemicals acrolein, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, hexane, and benzene for 2020. After EPA informed Pratt Energy of its failure to report, the company submitted the required forms.
Pratt Energy’s settlement with EPA includes the purchase of two utility terrain vehicles and a fire and rescue cot to be donated to Pratt County Emergency Management and Pratt County Emergency Medical Services.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act requires facilities to report on the storage, use, and releases of hazardous substances. The information submitted is compiled in the Toxics Release Inventory, which supports informed decision-making by companies, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the public.
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