A Bristol Township company has pleaded guilty to storing explosive hazardous waste illegally at its facility in Atglen, Chester County.
Action Manufacturing agreed to pay a fine of $1.2 million and will face a five-year term of probation and a special assessment of $800. According to a press release from the United States Attorney, the president of the company has agreed to resign. The company will also comply with a schedule for disposing of the backlog of waste built up over many years.
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From the United States Attorney:
Action Manufacturing makes timing and arming devices for munitions and explosives. In its manufacturing process, Action Manufacturing mixes explosive powders, and also fills boosters, detonators and other items with explosive powders. Action Manufacturing’s production process generates explosive solid waste, and the law requires that it be disposed of in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The company admitted that, instead of sending its waste to an approved treatment, storage and disposal facility, it stockpiled explosive hazardous waste at its Atglen facility without a permit. In November 2011, civil inspectors from EPA’s Land and Chemicals Division and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Atglen site, and found the illegally stored waste, including scrap parts and components that were years or even decades overdue for disposal.
Action Manufacturing also admitted that it violated Department of Transportation recordkeeping regulations for transporting explosive material on the public roads.
“The defendant’s illegal business practices threatened the lives and safety of workers and neighbors,” Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in the Middle Atlantic States David G. McLeod said. “By creating a risk for detonation and release of hazardous waste, the company also threatened to pollute the environment. Today’s plea demonstrates EPA’s commitment to prosecute those who endanger public safety and a clean environment by ignoring the law.”
The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.
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A sentencing hearing in the case is scheduled for August 27.
