BIDDEFORD — A Biddeford company will provide the Biddeford fire department with more than $13,000 in equipment as part of a settlement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Fiber Materials allegedly failed to file a required toxic inventory form, according to a statement released by the EPA Thursday.
The EPA claims that the company violated the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act by failing to complete and submit a toxic release inventory form for polycyclic aromatic compounds, or PACs, which are toxic.
As a result of an EPA inspection earlier this year, the agency alleged that Fiber Materials processed more than 4,000 pounds of PACs in 2012, which is far more than the 100-pound threshold for reporting.
“Failing to file toxic inventory forms deprives the community of its right to know about releases and the presence of toxic chemicals in the neighborhood,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.
Under the settlement, Fiber Materials Inc. will also pay a $7,000 penalty.
The company will donate the safety equipment to the Biddeford Fire Department to use during emergency response activities.
The equipment being purchased by Fiber Materials as part of the agreement includes specialized equipment to aid responders in entering confined spaces such as chemical tanks; a gas detection unit that can measure the levels of various gases in the air so that responders do not enter without appropriate protection; and air cylinders that will increase the amount of time crews may safely spend responding to emergencies in dangerous atmospheres.
“EPA is pleased that in this settlement, the local community will benefit from their local fire department having access to specialized equipment to better protect health during emergencies,” said Spalding.
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