Beef Products incorporated has reached an agreement to pay a civil penalty for an incident in Waterloo where one employee died. Under the agreement, BPI will pay $450,000 for violations of the Clean Air Act in 2007.
The EPA alleges over 1,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia was released into a production area of the now closed Waterloo plant. Two employees were trapped in the area where the anhydrous was released, and one died and the other had injuries resulting in permanent disability.
The EPA says BPI directed employees to enter the area while dangers levels of anhydrous remained in the air. EPA determined that BPI did have a written risk management program for the Waterloo plant, but the program was not implemented, and that contributed to the problem.
As part of the settlement, BPI has agreed to audits of its South Sioux City, Nebraska facility to determine if the company is complying with its risk management plan.