Warwick Chemical Company to Plead Guilty to Violating Clean Air Act
Monday, April 06, 2015
Mann Distribution of Warwick is expected to plead guilty to a federal charge of violating the Clean Air Act for “failing to develop and implement a Risk Management Plan to minimize the chance of release of hydrofluoric acid from its Warwick facility, and to protect workers, the community, and emergency and first responders in the event of a release or fire involving the chemical,” according to documents filed Monday in federal court in Providence.
At sentencing, the court will be asked to impose a fine of $200,000 and to order the company to serve a term of 3 years probation for failing to adhere to Environmental Protection Agency regulations which require a Risk Management Plan be developed, including a “worst case” response plan.
According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, hydrogen fluoride is a chemical compound that contains fluorine. When hydrogen fluoride is dissolved in water, it may be called hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is used mainly for industrial purposes, and may cause skin burns, tissue damage and/or respiratory concerns.
EPA regulations require facilities storing more than 1,000 lbs. of hydrofluoric acid to develop and implement a Risk Management Plan. An EPA inspection in June 2009 determined that Mann Chemical failed to develop and implement a Risk Management Plan while storing 92 drums of hydrofluoric acid.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division Boston Area Office.
A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. A Plea Agreement filed with the court stipulates that at sentencing the Government and Mann Chemical will recommend that the court impose a fine of $200,000. In addition, Mann Chemical will be required to issue a public apology.
Related Slideshow: Providence Legal Settlements
The below slides list the top 20 legal settlements by category paid out by the City of Providence in 2014. Each slide lists the category of settlement, the number of cases, and the total amount paid out. Settlement categories are listed in order of the total amount, from least to greatest. Note that there are two main types of settlements: those that resolve a lawsuit and those that are in response to legal claims—usually for small amounts—that are filed with the City of Providence instead in a court.
Note that the amounts paid out for smaller claims and in lawsuits are tallied separately. (For example there are two slides for slip and falls. One for settlements resulting from lawsuits and one for settlements paid out in response to a legal claim filed with the city.) Each slide indicates whether the cases involved were legal claims or lawsuits. Data were obtained from a response to a public records request.
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