An ethanol plant in Torrington has agreed to pay $49,000 in fines for violations regarding hazardous chemicals.
David Cobb with the Environmental Protection Agency says Wyoming Ethanol did not tell the public it was using large quantities of ammonia, and did not have adequate risk management plans for handling flammable mixtures. Both are violations of federal law.
Cobb says the chemicals in question are dangerous.
“The ammonia – that’s more of an acutely toxic chemical,” Cobb said. “And for the flammable mixture, the issue is more of a fire release – that type of thing.”
In addition to paying the fine, Wyoming Ethanol has come into compliance with the laws. Cobb says this was the company’s first violation of this nature.