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Friday, November 8, 2024

Mishandling Hazardous Material has Consequenses.

 

A Weapons manufacturer based in Atglan, Pennsylvania, was sentence in US District Court, Philadelphia, to a five-year term of probation and was assessed a criminal fine of $1.2 million for illegal transportation and storage of explosive, hazardous materials, on August 27th, 2014.   Additionally, the company agreed to appoint a new president and chief executive officer.

Previously, the company pled guilty to criminal charges that resulted from the illegal storage of explosive hazardous waste and the unsafe transportation of explosive materials on public roads without the proper labels, markings, or declarations.

The company produced explosive arming and timing devices for use in the munitions and weapon systems, as well as warhead assemblies, detonators, and fuses.  Its manufacturing process generated explosive waste deemed hazardous under federal law due to the characteristics of reactivity to the products.

The company admitted it illegally stored explosive hazardous waste between 1980 and July 2013 without the required Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits.  It admitted that it transported military grade explosives without hazardous marterial shipping papers required by the Pipelines and Hazardous Material Safety Administration.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation with the EPA – Criminal Investigation Division.