HP Hood LLC, a national ice cream manufacturer, agreed to pay a penalty of $115,849 to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it violated federal laws regulating the handling and storage of ammonia at its facility in Suffield, Conn. As part of the settlement, the company has also agreed to complete system safety audits of its six facilities nationwide that have requirements under the risk management program (RMP) regulation.
"When a company falls short in meeting its safety obligations, it puts workers, local communities, and the environment at risk. With the company operating facilities across the country, we have a duty to call out a lack of accountability when we see it," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Ensuring safety and management practices of hazardous substances is key. We are dedicated to our core mission of protecting all communities, specifically focusing on mitigating environmental pollution and minimizing risks. This case serves as a reminder to companies that accountability and compliance is important. Chemical accident planning, prevention, and mitigation requirements, are all steps we make certain of, in order to keep New England safe."
An EPA inspection of HP Hood LLC facilities in Suffield, Conn revealed that HP Hood failed to document that its ammonia refrigeration equipment complied with recognized and generally applicable good engineering practices in violation of the Clean Air Act. This included issues like missing ammonia alarms, inadequate labeling of critical equipment, and failure to adhere to engineering best practices in equipment installation.
In addition, HP Hood failed to comply with the mechanical integrity requirements of the Clean Air Act's chemical accident prevention regulations by allegedly failing to sufficiently conduct piping inspections. Instances of damaged pipe insulation with potential safety risks and a minor anhydrous ammonia leak from a valve were documented. These findings highlighted the need for improved safety measures and adherence to industry standards at this facility, and at the other five HP Hood LLC facilities with risk management plan (RMP) requirements nationwide. As result, EPA negotiated with HP Hood LLC to pay a penalty, as well as create a schedule for conducting system safety audits at its six RMP facilities nationwide.
The penalty also includes a separate EPA assessment regarding a recent ammonia release from this company, caused by a forklift impact. Impacts to equipment have caused several accidents at facilities owned by other companies located in New England. As a result of EPA's action, HP Hood LLC has brought its facility in Suffield, Conn., into compliance to correct the conditions found during the inspection. In addition, the company must take steps to protect pipes in the machinery room from future forklift impacts.
