November 14, 2001 — SOUTH PORTLAND, ME — National Semiconductor has reached a $220,000 settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over 1999 safety violations at its Maine facility, according to published reports.

Under the agreement, National Semiconductor will pay a fine of $42,000 and install a $186,000 system to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in it manufacturing process, the Associated Press reported.

The EPA said it found several hazardous waste regulation violations at National’s Portland site in 1999 including failure to have a complete hazardous waste contingency plan in plan in case of a hazardous waste spill, failure to fully inspect a hazardous waste tank before it was put into service, failure to properly train employees who handle hazardous waste, and failure to label hazardous waste containers properly.

EPA officials said the violations have since been corrected.

“While it’s better to get it right the first time, the company should be commended for cooperating with EPA and moving quickly to correct all hazardous waster violations at this plant and across the country,” said Robert W. Varney, EPA’s regional administrator for New England.