ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - A Roanoke chemical distribution company will be paying a hefty fine after officials say they stored corrosive hazardous waste without a permit - among other things.
Chemsolv Inc. pleaded guilty Tuesday, Dec. 22 in federal court to transporting Ferric Chloride without a manifest and storing corrosive hazardous waste without a permit.
The company was also fined $1 million, plus five years probation, and required to initiate $250,000 worth of community service programs.
The company is also required to develop an environmental compliance plan, and have all of its facilities audited on an annual basis. Officials say the company will not be able to deduct the cost of the plan or audit or community service from its taxes.
In conjunction with the criminal settlement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a civil settlement with Chemsolv Inc. that requires the company to pay a $250,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of improper hazderous waste storage at Chemsolv's Roanoke facility.
Chemsolv Inc. was represented by VP Jamison Austin and involved their two locations on 1140 Industry Ave SE and 1111 Industry Ave SE in Roanoke.
Chemsolv Inc. was accused of spilling Ferric Chloride on a neighboring property, an industrial park. The park owner did not report any damage.
The transportation of Ferric Chloride occurred on June 12, 2012. The storage of corrosive hazardous waste happened between Dec. 2013 and Nov. 19, 2014.
The judge accepted the guilty plea Tuesday, Dec. 22, however, an official sentencing date has been scheduled for April 8, 2016.
Media statement from Chemsolv, Inc.:Â
Chemsolv, Inc., a Roanoke-based supplier of industrial and specialty chemicals, today announced it has agreed to plead guilty to two charges related to storing and shipping chemicals in three separate containers.
Chemsolv has fully cooperated with authorities in this matter and is pleased to move forward in a spirit of collaboration with federal, state, and local regulatory bodies. We agree with the government's statements during today's hearing that the spill in 2012 was accidental, and that errors were made by Chemsolv and one of our vendors, W.E.L. Once we learned of the issue, the shipment in question was properly managed and disposed in accordance with the law.
No one was injured as a result of this incident, nor was there any damage to property or the environment.
Regarding Count Two of the information, it is important to note that one container of 64 that were stored on a trailer on Chemsolv's property was not properly categorized by us as hazardous material constituting hazardous waste. Chem-Solv did not possess the appropriate permit to store that drum because we do not normally engage in the business of handling hazardous waste.
We have no further comment on the case itself. As part of the settlement, $250,000 will benefit local environmental initiatives and we look forward to positively impacting our community with these efforts.
Chemsolv takes its duties as a corporate citizen seriously and is working with regulators to ensure that the company continues to have state-of-the art procedures and protocols in place. Chemsolv prides itself as a responsible steward of the environment, and is eager to work closely with regulators to ensure that Chemsolv becomes an example for other companies to emulate.Â
Safety is our top priority, and our focus on safety includes procedures and processes that have resulted in operating 997 consecutive days without a lost-time incident since Oct. 1, 2012, or 512,000 man-hours.
In addition, from 2012 through 2015, Chemsolv safely handled 360 million pounds of product through its warehouse. Including direct shipments and bulk shipments, that number totals 537.9 million pounds, or more than 1.3 million containers.
We not only meet but exceed industry standards. As a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) since 1982, Chemsolv is aggressively implementing and enforcing the Responsible Distribution policy that was adopted by the association in 1991.Â
Chemsolv received its latest Certificate of Conformance from NACD in July 2015.
Responsible Distribution is a mandatory third-party verified environmental, health, safety & security program that lets members demonstrate their commitment to continuous performance improvement in every phase of chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal.
Chemsolv is committed to the environmentally sound management of chemical materials at each of our facilities, and at all of our customer locations. We are directly involved with customer training programs, providing comprehensive product information, safety recommendations, and chemical handling instructions for their employees, to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Being in a heavily regulated industry, other agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security have commended our facility and our willingness to cooperate.
With 65 employees in Roanoke, we contribute greatly to the region's economy through payroll taxes, customer visits, local and out-of-state vendors, trucking companies and more. Our sales bring money directly back to the Valley.
Chemsolv represents more than 250 manufacturers of industrial chemicals, silicones, solvents, lubricants, metalworking fluids, surfactants and other specialty products, all of which are supported by a commitment to the continuous improvement in our operating practices. We support a number of vital industries, including paints, inks and coatings; printing; aerospace; defense; manufacturing; personal care; pets; food and pharma; automotive; adhesives; durable goods; and textiles.
Founded in 1979, the company is the 42nd largest distributor in the United States and 117th in the world. Chemsolv also has facilities in Richmond as well as Tennessee and South Carolina.