PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) — The Galliker Dairy Company will pay $35,991 to resolve allegations that it failed to safely manage a hazardous substance at its dairy products manufacturing plant in Johnston, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced.
The EPA alleged that the company violated the federal Clean Air Act by not properly managing anhydrous ammonia, an extremely hazardous substance used in refrigeration systems.
The Clean Air Act mandates that companies that use hazardous substances identify and assess their potential dangers. Companies must then design and maintain a safe facility to deal with the hazards — a facility that can properly prevent accidental releases into the air. Ensuring proper safety measures helps protect employees, the community and the environment.
The Galliker Dairy Company allegedly failed to ensure that the design and upkeep of its anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system met industry standards. Specifically, purported violations include deficiencies in training, maintenance documentation, detector/alarm settings, personal protective equipment, and protection of the system.
The Galliker Dairy Company documented its current compliance with industry standards as part of the settlement, and has corrected all alleged deficiencies. It did not admit liability for the purported violations.