Company north of Tri-Cities to pay $135,000 fine over dangerous chemical storage
An Othello company that supplies anhydrous ammonia across five Northwest states has agreed to pay a federal fine of $135,000 to settle alleged issues dating back years.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Multistar Industries violated multiple chemical accident prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act as it stored and distributed chemicals.
“Failure to comply with the law puts first responders and members of the surrounding community in harm’s way,” said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA Region Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division in Seattle.
Exposure to high concentrations of anhydrous ammonia — commonly used in industrial refrigeration, agricultural and cold storage facilities — can lead to serious lung damage and even death.
Multistar, a family-run business, said it settled to forgo years of litigation and legal fees.
It does not admit wrongdoing alleged by the EPA.
The company was prepared to prove it was in compliance with regulations and that allegations were unfounded, but could not match the unlimited resources of the federal government to continue litigation, it said.
“Multistar prides itself in conducting its business with the utmost care and safety,” said Martin Crowley, Multistar regulatory compliance officer. “Since Multistar’s founding almost 60 years ago, there has never been a single incident of harm to the community or the environment.”
Multistar said it needed to prove that it was adequately maintaining inspection and testing records on certain equipment and had documentation for its facility design and operating procedures.
EPA said that after inspections in 2013 and 2017, Multistar was not meeting requirements for facilities storing large quantities of anhydrous ammonia to minimize the risk of an accidental release.
EPA said that Multistar failed to properly design its ammonia storage and distribution system, adequately maintain inspection and testing records on certain equipment, and develop and implement some written operating procedures consistent with industry standards.
Multistar also failed to promptly update deficiencies identified in required compliance audits and failed to meet requirements of a 2016 compliance order Multistar entered into with EPA, according to the federal agency.
Othello is about 50 miles north of the Tri-Cities in Washington state’s Adams County.
This story was originally published April 1, 2021 at 3:07 PM.