Food Services of America to Pay $14,296 Penalty, Buy Emergency Equipment for Red Cross & County

July 19, 2004

Food Services of America (FSA) has agreed to pay a penalty and purchase emergency response equipment to resolve an EPA complaint that FSA failed to report that it maintained large quantities of ammonia, sulfuric acid, diesel fuel, and lead at its Everett location.

The company will pay a cash penalty of $14, 296 for violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and will purchase $27,765 in new emergency response equipment for the Snohomish County Chapter of the Red Cross and the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management in the local area of the Everett facility. This equipment will increase the ability of the community to respond effectively to hazardous materials releases and other hazards, which ultimately decreases the risk to human health and the environment.

After the tragedy at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, Congress enacted EPCRA as the national legislation on community safety. This law was designated to help local communities protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards. EPCRA requires companies like FSA to submit an inventory of large quantities of certain hazardous chemicals to the State Emergency Response Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the local fire department.

Emergency responders rely on this information for their safety and that of nearby residents in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or earthquake. Citizens can also access the information to find out what chemicals are being stored and used in their neighborhoods.

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