Borealis Compounds, Inc. Will Pay $450,000 to Settle Chemical Reporting Violations at New Jersey Facility
Mansfield Township, N.J. (January 7, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with global manufacturer Borealis Compounds, Inc. to resolve violations of chemical safety requirements. EPA had alleged that the company violated the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a federal law that regulates the manufacture, use, and reporting of chemicals, at its Port Murray, New Jersey facility. Borealis has agreed to pay a $450,000 civil penalty and ensure compliance with TSCA regulations moving forward, including reporting on chemicals and provisions to protect workers.
“This settlement underscores EPA’s commitment to holding companies accountable for safeguarding public health and meeting federal chemical safety standards,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “In this case, their failure to follow the rules and not document the chemicals properly.”
The settlement resolves violations discovered during a February 2022 inspection and subsequent EPA review. EPA determined that Borealis Compounds, LLC failed to comply with TSCA’s reporting, recordkeeping, and notification requirements for specific chemical substances used at its facility. Notably, the company did not provide the required protective equipment for workers while handling polyethylene in a process called compounding and failed to meet reporting obligations for this substance. Polyethylene compounding is a process where different materials are mixed to create a new type of polyethylene plastic. Borealis also neglected to submit mandatory chemical data reporting for twelve other substances imported by the facility in quantities greater than 25,000 pounds.
The Borealis facility in Port Murray employs approximately 140 people and produces plastic compounds used in wire and cable products. The company has since corrected the violations and worked cooperatively with EPA to resolve this matter. Under the agreement, Borealis has committed to full compliance with TSCA and related regulations moving forward.
Learn more about EPA’s enforcement of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X, Instagram, and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
25-001