On June 23, 2016, Region 1 filed a consent agreement and final order (CAFO) resolving violations by Rachael?s Food Corporation of the General Duty Clause of Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act and of Section 312 of EPCRA. Rachael?s Food operates a meat processing facility in Bloomfield, Connecticut that includes an ammonia refrigeration system. The Facility is located across the street from a large shopping mall complex, near residences and other commercial businesses, and in an area with potential environmental justice concerns.
The CAFO includes payment of a civil penalty of $65,000. EPA and Rachael?s Food previously entered into an Administrative Order on Consent in September 2015 and Rachael?s Food has corrected all the identified deficiencies and come into compliance. This settlement is designed to reduce the likelihood of a release of anhydrous ammonia occurring, and to limit the severity of any ammonia release that might occur, from the Facility.