Denver slaughterhouse Superior Farms agreed to pay $119,200 settlement to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to court documents filed last week, after the agency identified problems with how the company managed a toxic chemical.
In January 2020, the EPA identified several issues with Superior Farms’ refrigeration systems that the agency said violated the federal Clean Air Act, according to a press release and the settlement agreement, which was filed Sept. 18. Under the terms of the deal, Superior Farms will pay the $119,200 civil penalty while also spending $250,000 to upgrade equipment beyond what is required by law.
The company did not admit to the EPA’s allegations as part of the settlement. In a press release announcing the settlement, the EPA said it found issues related to Superior Farms’ “management of anhydrous ammonia, a chemical used as a refrigerant that can be hazardous to human health if not managed properly.”
“I’m glad that Superior Farms is implementing critical safety measures to protect workers and the community,” EPA regional administrator KC Becker said in a press release. “This settlement will benefit the surrounding community by preventing dangerous chemical accidents.”
In a statement, Superior Farms said it voluntarily agreed to the settlement, and Vice President of Operations Greg Ahart said the company was “excited to take this next step to ensure we continue to exceed food quality standards and provide the safest environment for our employee-owners.”
Based in north Denver, Superior Farms is the city’s only slaughterhouse, and animal-rights activists are backing a November ballot measure that would ban Superior Farms and any other future facilities from operating in the city.
“This fine is just the latest proof that Superior Farms cannot be trusted as a responsible steward of the environment,” Olivia Hammond, the spokeswoman for Pro-Animal Denver, which is supporting the ballot measure, said in a statement. “Superior Farms has a years-long record of recklessly violating federal laws, endangering the surrounding community and harming workers and animals.”
Ian Silverii, the spokesman for the campaign opposing Pro-Animal Denver and its ballot measure, blasted the group in a separate statement Thursday.
“Unsurprisingly, even though the EPA praises Superior Farms for ‘going beyond what is required by code,’ Pro Animal Future ignores the facts because they will say anything and do anything to pass its ban on a single employee-owned business that has been operating in Denver for 70 years,” Silverii wrote.
According to the settlement agreement, EPA investigators found several issues related to Superior Farm’s refrigeration system. Those issues included improper storage of flammable or combustible materials like cardboard boxes; a lack of emergency shut-off and ventilation controls; missing labels; and absent ammonia alarms and detectors.
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