By Chelsey Dulaney
DuPont Co. agreed to pay $1.28 million to resolve alleged
violations tied to hazardous chemical leaks at a West Virginia
chemical plant that left one DuPont worker dead, the U.S. Justice
Department and Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.
The hazardous material leaks, which occurred at the Belle plant
between 2006 and 2010, posed significant risks to residents and to
the Kanawha River, the Justice Department said.
The leaks were discovered in January 2010, when operators found
more than 2,000 pounds of methyl chloride had leaked into the
atmosphere and employees failed to respond to alarms, the DOJ said.
A day later, workers found a leak in a pipe containing toxic gas.
Later that day, a hose containing toxic gas ruptured, exposing the
worker who later died.
DuPont also agreed in the settlement to corrective measures,
including implementing new procedures to improve its response to
alarms over hazardous releases, the DOJ said.
Overall, the new procedures are expected to cost the chemical
maker $2.28 million. DuPont has already spent an estimated $6.83
million to comply with a 2010 order from the EPA over Clean Air Act
violations, the DOJ said.
"We remain committed to meeting all regulatory requirements and
operating at the highest standards for protection of our employees,
contractors, community and the environment," the company said in a
statement. "We acknowledge and deeply regret the loss of our
employee, Danny Fish, who was a much-loved father, husband,
co-worker, friend and community member."
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at chelsey.dulaney@wsj.com
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