The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced today a settlement with E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) at its Belle, W. Va. facility for eight alleged releases of harmful levels of hazardous substances between May 2006 and January 2010. Several of the releases posed significant risk to people or the Kanawha River. One DuPont worker died after exposure to phosgene, a toxic gas released due to DuPont?s failure to comply with industry accident prevention procedures. DuPont will pay a $1.275 million penalty and will take corrective actions to prevent future releases to resolve the alleged violations of the general duty clause and risk management provisions of the Clean Air Act, and the emergency response provisions of Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and Section 304 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Producing toxic and hazardous substances can be dangerous, and requires complying with environmental and safety laws,? said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA?s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. ?Today's settlement with DuPont will ensure that the proper practices are in place to protect communities and nearby water bodies.
?Failing to follow laws meant to prevent accidents can have fatal consequences ? as was tragically the case here,? said Sam Hirsch, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department?s Envi