September 19, 2013. Companies need to responsibly manage risks involved with environmental compliance. Failure to do so can become an expensive operating cost for a facility. Earlier this year, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. agreed to pay a $2.25 million civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The violations included failure to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from wastewater and failure to comply with regulations designed to prevent leaks of air pollutants from equipment at the facility. “With numerous violations over a period of years, Teva’s actions resulted in significant environmental damage to the air and water,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks. “The penalty and injunctive relief required by this agreement send a strong message to Teva and others that businesses must comply with environmental laws.” In addition to the penalty, Teva will complete other actions at the facility valued at approximately $2.5 million. These include the installation of equipment to recover and reuse approximately 59.5 tons of methylene chloride and reduce other emissions by 19 tons over a five-year period. Teva will also conduct an audit to identify past causes of CWA violations, implement a program to prevent leaks of hazardous air pollutants at the facility, take actions to prevent future violations, and implement an Environmental Management System with third-party monitoring. To learn more, email info@goosmannlaw.com or call 712.226.4000.
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