At the K2 Pure Solutions Nocal facility in Pittsburg, Calif., which manufactures bleach, chlorine, and hydrochloric acid, EPA found significant safety issues during an investigation that began in 2020. These issues included an incomplete documentation of the facility�s pressure relief system, failure to address the safety recommendations in a timely manner and inadequate procedures for testing of emergency response equipment.
In August 2021, EPA ordered the facility to address the deficiencies identified during the inspection, which K2 has mostly since done. In April 2024, EPA reached a settlement agreement with K2 that requires the company to pay a $85,189 civil penalty and address remaining deficiencies. That work includes:
Replacing instruments in an electrical hazardous area;
Moving a chlorine pressure relief device discharge location to a safe location;
Completing and implementing the results of a safety study on discharge locations for a dozen safety pressure relief devices; Addressing safety recommendations from recent process hazards analyses;
Updating leak repair procedures;
Certifying that all critical interlocks and instruments testing is current.
Under the agreement, K2 will also provide Contra Costa Health Services with emergency response resources through a supplemental environmental project (SEP). The SEP includes $264,990 in emergency response equipment, including devices for the detection, identification, and quantification of toxic ind