Dover Chemical has agreed to pay $1.4m in fines for unauthorised production of chlorinated paraffins at its plants in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Indiana.
The settlement, proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Justice, resolves violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) pre-manufacture notice obligations for production of various chlorinated paraffins.
Under the settlement act, Dover has stopped producing short-chain chlorinated paraffins, which have persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) characteristics and pose health risks especially for children, including affecting a person's genetics and nervous system, and can also lead to cancer.
EPA Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Office assistant administrator Cynthia Giles said: "Today's action reinforces the need for chemical manufacturers to follow the law and protects Americans from chemicals that could be harmful to their health."
Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, said: "This settlement will require Dover to participate in an EPA review of all types of chlorinated paraffin products sold by the company and bring Dover into compliance with the Toxic Substances Control Act.
"By halting production of short-chain chlorinated paraffins, this settlement will reduce undue risks to human health and the environment."
Responding to the Department of Justice's announcement, Dover said it will also submit pre-manufacture notices to EPA for other medium-chain and long-chain chlorinated paraffin products.
Chlorinated paraffins which exhibit different properties are based on their carbon chain lengths including short, medium or long-chain.
They are used in lubricants and coolants in metal cutting and metal forming operations, and are also utilised as a secondary plasticiser and flame retardant in plastics, and as an additive in paints.
