The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced settlements with three New England companies for failing to comply with federal pesticide regulations. Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts, Inc., Ferti Technologies CT Corp, and Exoban, LLC have agreed to pay penalties for not submitting their annual pesticide production reports for the years 2021 and 2022, a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
EPA Region 1's enforcement actions come after the companies were initially warned for their failure to file the required reports for 2021. Despite the warnings, the companies again failed to meet their reporting obligations for the subsequent year, leading to the assessed penalties. The fines, determined partly by the size of each company, are as follows: Seaman Paper Company is fined $1,400, Ferti Technologies CT Corp $1,000, and Exoban, LLC $500.
James Anderson, a spokesperson for the EPA Region 1 Press Office, stated:
FIFRA mandates that entities producing pesticides, their active ingredients, or devices, submit annual production reports. These reports are crucial for the EPA's compliance, risk assessment, and risk reduction endeavours, essential for safeguarding public health and the environment.
The EPA emphasizes the importance of these reports as they enable the agency to monitor where and how pesticidal products are being produced, sold, and distributed across the United States. The lack of compliance with these reporting requirements hinders the EPA's ability to ensure that pesticide use does not pose harm to human health or the environment.
The settlements reached with Seaman Paper Company, Ferti Technologies CT Corp, and Exoban, LLC, aim to rectify the alleged violations of failing to file or timely file the necessary annual pesticide production reports. This action underscores the EPA's commitment to enforcing federal regulations designed to protect public health and the environment from the potential risks associated with pesticide production and use.
The EPA regulates all pesticide products in the U.S., ensuring that their application is safe and does not adversely affect human health or the environment. The agency's strict enforcement of FIFRA, including Section 7 reporting requirements, highlights its dedication to maintaining these safety standards.
