Ice Cream Manufacturer Fined For Violations At Suffield Plant

SUFFIELD, CT — National ice cream manufacturer HP Hood LLC has agreed to pay a penalty of $115,849 to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it violated federal laws regulating the handling and storage of ammonia at its facility in Suffield.

A recent ammonia release caused by a collision of a forklift into refrigeration equipment led to an EPA inspection, which revealed Hood failed to document its ammonia refrigeration equipment complied with recognized and generally applicable good engineering practices in violation of the Clean Air Act. This included issues like missing ammonia alarms, inadequate labeling of critical equipment and failure to adhere to engineering best practices in equipment installation, according to the EPA.

Hood also failed to comply with the mechanical integrity requirements of the Clean Air Act's chemical accident prevention regulations by failing to sufficiently conduct piping inspections. Instances of damaged pipe insulation with potential safety risks and a minor anhydrous ammonia leak from a valve were documented by the EPA.

The EPA negotiated with Hood to pay a penalty, as well as create a schedule for conducting system safety audits at its six risk management program (RMP) facilities nationwide. Hood has brought its Suffield facility into compliance to correct the conditions found during the inspection. In addition, the company must take steps to protect pipes in the machinery room from future forklift impacts, according to the EPA.

"When a company falls short in meeting its safety obligations, it puts workers, local communities, and the environment at risk," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash said. "With the company operating facilities across the country, we have a duty to call out a lack of accountability when we see it. Ensuring safety and management practices of hazardous substances is key. We are dedicated to our core mission of protecting all communities, specifically focusing on mitigating environmental pollution and minimizing risks. This case serves as a reminder to companies that accountability and compliance is important. Chemical accident planning, prevention, and mitigation requirements, are all steps we make certain of, in order to keep New England safe."