Selkirk NY Company Hit with Massive $300K Fine! What’d They Do?
Do you remember hearing about the chaos at a certain Selkirk, NY company last September? Something happened and New York State Office of Emergency Management, State Police, State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and local governmental agencies rushed to the location and shut down a bunch of roads in the area. They even evacuated the area!
That company allegedly released over 22,000 pounds of styrene vapor to the environment and now they are literally paying the price.
According to OSHA, styrene vapor is is a synthetic chemical used to make plastic products. If exposed to this chemical your central nervous could be effected causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness and a feeling of intoxication.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, have executed two Orders on Consent with SHPP US, LLC, also known as SABIC, on Crebel Road in Selkirk. Included in these orders are $322,400 in penalties and requirements to make improvements to their facilities.
Today, DEC is holding SABIC accountable for creating a dangerous situation that threatened the health and safety of employees, emergency responders, and the surrounding community," Commissioner Seggos said, "These enforcement actions include a substantial penalty and require SABIC to improve its operations to protect the surrounding community and the environment from further violations and prevent future emergencies.
On that date in September the vapor was released from a railcar and into the atmosphere! The DEC investigated and found
- Improper handling and storage of hazardous substances
- Improper maintenance and repair of the railcar
- Violations of air pollution regulations
- Unauthorized release of a hazardous substance
- Plus an additional 29 violations of the facility's Air Title V permit, unrelated to the styrene release