EPA Fines Roquette America Inc. of Keokuk, Iowa, for Alleged Chemical Risk Prevention Violations

EPA Fines Roquette America Inc. of Keokuk, Iowa, for Alleged Chemical Risk Prevention Violations

October 3, 2024

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 3, 2024) - Corn syrup and starch producer Roquette America Inc. of Keokuk, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $207,488 civil penalty and donate emergency response vehicles to the Keokuk Fire Department to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act's chemical risk prevention provisions.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company stores over 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, a regulated toxic substance, and failed to comply with regulations intended to protect the surrounding community from accidental releases.

Anhydrous ammonia presents a significant health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs. High levels of exposure may lead to choking and death.

"It is critical that companies that handle dangerous chemicals like anhydrous ammonia comply with the safety requirements of the Clean Air Act," said EPA Region 7 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director David Cozad. "EPA is committed to protecting communities from potentially catastrophic chemical releases, particularly those communities disproportionately affected by environmental harm."

An EPA inspection of the Roquette America facility in March 2022 revealed multiple Clean Air Act violations, including failure to conduct safety audits and address hazards, and failure to update emergency contact information.

In addition to paying the civil penalty, the company also agreed to spend about $122,000 to purchase two pickup trucks and outfit them as emergency response vehicles. The trucks will be donated to the Keokuk Fire Department.

EPA identified the community surrounding the Roquette America facility as a potentially sensitive area because of historic and ongoing exposures to pollution. EPA is strengthening enforcement in overburdened communities to address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of industrial operations on vulnerable populations.

The Clean Air Act's Risk Management Plan Ruleregulations require facilities that use regulated toxic and/or flammable substances to develop a Risk Management Plan that identifies the potential effects of a chemical accident; identifies steps a facility is taking to prevent an accident; and spells out emergency response procedures should an accident occur. These plans provide valuable information to local fire, police, and emergency response personnel to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies in their community.

EPA has found that many regulated facilities are not adequately managing the risks that they pose or ensuring the safety of their facilities in a way that is sufficient to protect surrounding communities. Approximately 150 catastrophic accidents occur per year at regulated facilities. These accidents result in fatalities, injuries, significant property damage, evacuations, sheltering in place, or environmental damage. Many more accidents with lesser effects also occur, demonstrating a clear risk posed by these facilities.

Reducing risks from accidental releases of hazardous substances at industrial and chemical facilities is a top priority for the EPA, which identified this goal as one of its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiativesin 2024.

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