Chemcentral Midwest Corp. of Kansas City agreed to pay a
$225,000 fine and reimburse the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) $150,713
for federal law violations involving an explosion in February 2007, the EPA reported.
The EPA said the explosion at 910 N. Prospect Ave. occurred
when Chemcentral workers transferred polybutene, a chemical used in sealants,
coatings, lubricants, cling film and adhesives. The EPA investigation determined
that Chemcentral violated the Clean Air Act by failing to identify chemical
hazards and failing to design and maintain a safe facility. The EPA also
determined that Chemcentral violated the Emergency Planning and Community Right
to Know Act by failing to submit a chemical inventory form for polybutene to
the local emergency planning committee, the state emergency response commission,
and the local fire department.
An EPA spokesman would not say whether the company admitted to
or denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
A spokeswoman for Chemcentral declined to comment on the
settlement.
Chemcentral was bought by Univar in April 2007.
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