| DEP FINES NORTH BERGEN FACILITY
FOR DISCHARGE VIOLATIONS
(05/132) TRENTON -- Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
has fined Frutarom USA Inc. $705,000 for ongoing violations of its
wastewater discharge permit.
"Frutarom is being held to account for breaking the law and
polluting Bellman's Creek," said Commissioner Campbell. "Frutarom's
violations merit steep fines because they were repeated, flagrant,
and serious."
Frutarom USA, Incorporated is an industrial facility that imports,
processes and supplies products that include seasonings, fragrances,
and natural aroma chemicals.
From April 2001 through July 2005, DEP cited Frutarom with 39 violations
of its wastewater discharge permit including releases of petroleum
hydrocarbons, oil and grease, and total suspended solids. DEP issued
several Notices of Violation (NOV) to Frutarom for recurring noncompliance
with its Surface Water Quality Permit during the last four years.
However, the company has continued to fail to meet the water discharge
permit limitations.
For over four years, Frutarom has discharged cooling water and
stormwater runoff containing pollutants into Bellman's Creek, significantly
contributing to impaired water quality and degraded environmental
habitat for indigenous aquatic species, such as striped bass and
white perch. As a result, DEP issued Frutarom an Administrative
Order and Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment (AONOCAPA)
for $705,000. This DEP order requires Frutarom to immediately comply
with its New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES)
permit limitations under the New Jersey Water Pollution Control
Act. Failure to comply with this administrative order by Frutarom
USA, Inc. will be met with further enforcement action by DEP.
For additional information on DEP Enforcement visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/index.html
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