WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced a settlement with INEOS ChlorAmericas of Wilmington, Del., regarding violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
INEOS allegedly imported various chain-length chlorinated paraffins without notifying the EPA.
Short-chained chlorinated paraffins, used as lubricants and coolants for metalworking and as plasticizers and flame retardants in plastics, are toxic to aquatic life, the EPA said.
INEOS will cease importing the substance. It will provide proper pre-manufacture notices to the EPA for any other chlorinated paraffin it wishes to manufacture after the date of lodging of the decree. It also will pay a $175,000 civil penalty.
INEOS has also agreed to provide the notices required by TSCA Section 5 to the EPA for any medium or long-chain chlorinated paraffin it wishes to import after the date of lodging of the decree.
The proposed settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the U.S. District Court for Delaware.