Source: Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, WA), October 12, 2012
Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com
Adhesives maker Westech Aerosol Corp., just fined $30,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, might be looking to leave Bremerton.
“I think they’re going to move somewhere in the not-too-distant future to a relatively nearby location in a business-friendly community,” spokesman Ray Foster said. The company with about 35 workers has been in the Olympic View Industrial Park near Bremerton National Airport since 2000. Any new location will be in Kitsap County, he said.
On Thursday, the EPA announced it and Westech had agreed on the amount of the penalty for risk-management violations of the federal Clean Air Act.
At any given time, Westech has about 10,000 pounds of the flammable chemicals propane and isobutane on its premises as it manufactures canisters of adhesives used in the fabrication of furniture, motor vehicles, boats and in aerospace.
But it had failed to submit a required risk-management plan to the EPA, which came to light in a 2007 EPA inspection, according to Suzanne Skadowski, a spokeswoman for the agency. Information in risk-management plans helps emergency responders know what they’re up against in the event of a spill, fire or explosion.
“We can’t take chances with public health,” said Wally Moon, an EPA preparedness and prevention manager. “Preventing an accidental release of dangerous chemicals protects the lives of workers, responders and nearby residents.”
Skadowski said Westech has “agreed to follow the rules from here on out.”
Foster suggested politics played a role in the fine and in the company’s wish to leave Bremerton. Westech used to be in the county until several years ago, when Bremerton annexed the area around the airport.
“They had no problems at all until Bremerton annexed that property. And then all of a sudden, it was a brave new world,” he said, adding the city’s fire marshal, Mike Six, was aggressive.
Six responded that the company had many safety issues, including electrical problems, improper storage of flammable substances and improper labeling of substances.
“This is a very complicated story, and no, the fire department has not been picking on them,” Six said.
Meanwhile, the company that sells its adhesive canisters internationally had been growing, making more product in what was becoming a too-small and now inadequate building.
Westech and its landlord, the Port of Bremerton, are in talks to terminate its lease, originally to expire in 2015. The company has been paying about $6,000 a month in rent to the port.
“We both have come to an agreement that neither party can justify the improvements that need to be made to that building,” said Tim Thomson, port chief executive officer.
Port papers stated: “The business obtained an occupancy permit for the level of production the company planned at the time of lease inception. Over the years, Westech has expanded its product line and operations to a point where significant improvements to the building would need to be completed to meet with current code requirements.”
Foster said that the company is about to unveil another product line and that the company sees opportunity in the growing composites industry.
Westech was founded by chemist David Carnahan, who remains as president.