On June 7, 2022, EPA Region III filed a signed Consent Agreement and Final Order ( CAFO ) resolving an action against Bear Island Paper WB, Inc. ( Bear Island ) for an alleged violation of Section 103 of CERCLA and Section 304 of EPCRA, in connection with a facility located in Ashland, VA. EPA alleges that Bear Island failed to immediately notify the National Response Center, the State Emergency Planning Commission, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee of a sodium hydroxide release from its facility on April 17, 2019 located in Ashland, VA. The agreement requires Respondent to pay $36,000 in civil penalties. The state of Virginia was advised of this enforcement action and did not raise any objections. CERCLA 103 and EPCRA 304 release reporting and chemical identification helps communities plan for chemical emergencies by requiring industry to report on the storage, use, and releases of hazardous substances to federal, state, and local governments allowing them to use this information to prepare their community from potential risks.