Connecticut firm agrees to EPA settlement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently reached a settlement with BWE, Inc., over alleged federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) violations at its facility in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Based in East Hartford, Connecticut, BWE, has several New England facilities for storing and distributing flammable liquids such as petroleum products. The EPA alleged that the company failed to file chemical inventory reports required by the federal law.

The company was initially investigated after an inspection of its West Rutland, Vermont, facility, which sparked a deeper look into reporting throughout its operations. The EPA allegedly found that the company did not file required reports for its Manchester facility by the deadlines for 2012 and 2013.

“Lack of chemical inventory information can compromise proper emergency planning and response by the local officials,” Curt Spalding, EPA New England Office regional administrator, said. “The penalty paid by BWE is a reminder to other companies that the federal government takes seriously the public’s right and need to know about chemicals present in the community.”

As part of the settlement, BWE will pay a $82,200 penalty, in addition to bringing all of its facilities into compliance.