PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 28, 2011) The U.S.…
PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 28, 2011)
– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced that Merck &
Co. has agreed to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty to settle
alleged violations of federal environmental laws at its
pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Riverside and West
Point, Pa.
The facilities are located at 100 Avenue C,
Riverside in Northumberland County and 770 Sumneytown, Pike, West
Point in Montgomery County.
According to the United States’ complaint,
Merck failed to take necessary preventative measures and follow
reporting requirements under federal environmental regulations.
Because Merck has already resolved the alleged violations, the
United States has filed in federal district court a proposed
stipulation and order to dismiss the complaint.
The complaint alleges that Merck did not comply
with Clean Air Act emissions reporting and recordkeeping
requirements. The complaint also asserts that Merck discharged
pollutants in excess of limits in its Clean Water Act permit;
failed to notify local officials of hazardous substances released;
and failed to properly label and store hazardous
waste.
The complaint is based on multi-media
inspections conducted in 2006 to review both facilities’
compliance with federal air, water, hazardous waste, spill
prevention, and community right-to-know regulations.
The company has taken corrective actions to
correct the alleged violations, and has implemented best management
practices for continuing environmental compliance.