Failure to report involves millions of pounds of toxic
chemicals and prevents EPA and communities from identifying threats
to public health
OAKLAND,
Calif., June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the
Center for Environmental Health (CEH) filed suit against AOC, LLC
for failing to report imports of toxic chemicals to the
Environmental Protection Agency, a violation of the Chemical Data
Reporting (CDR) rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act or
TSCA.
AOC, LLC is a chemical manufacturer located in Piperton, Tennessee. According to CEH's
investigation, AOC failed to report imports totaling millions of
pounds of Phthalic Anhydride, Dicyclopentadiene, and Neopentyl
Glycol.
Because of the critical importance of CDR reporting to
addressing chemical risks and protecting communities, CEH
systematically analyzes import data for numerous companies and
chemicals and expects its ongoing investigation will disclose
additional violations, resulting in more lawsuits, as well as legal
settlements.
"With a new cycle of CDR reporting just beginning on
June 1, these cases should remind
companies of the consequences of failing to comply with these
important requirements, particularly for imported chemicals that
have been falling through the cracks," said Bob Sussman, CEH counsel and former EPA
official.
CDR reporting is critical in protecting workers and communities
because, according to EPA, the "exposure information [reported] is
an essential part of developing risk evaluations and . . .
collecting this exposure information is critical to [EPA's] mission
of characterizing exposure [and] identifying potential risks."
These chemicals were imported between 2016 and 2019 but do not
appear to have been reported by the January
29, 2021 reporting deadline as required by the Chemical Data
Reporting rule.
"The reporting violations uncovered in our investigation are
more evidence of a gaping hole in the safety net that safeguards
vulnerable populations, namely communities of color and low-income
communities," said Kizzy
Charles-Guzman, Chief Executive Officer at the Center for
Environmental Health. "CEH is proud to be a nonprofit watchdog
on hazardous chemicals, stepping in to ensure EPA enforcement,
protecting all communities from toxic exposures."
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SOURCE Center for Environmental Health