November 9, 2001 – South Portland, ME – National Semiconductor and the US Environmental Protection Agency have reached a $220,000 settlement over violations, the agency announced.
National Semiconductor has agreed to pay a fine of $42,000 because of violations found at the S. Portland manufacturing facility in 1999, the EPA said. The company is also installing a $186,000 system at the plant to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in its manufacturing process, according to the Associated Press.
All the violations have been corrected, the EPA said.
“While it’s better to get it right the first time, the company should be commended for cooperating with the EPA and moving quickly to correct all hazardous waste violations at this plant and across the country,” said Robert W. Varney, the agency’s regional administrator for New England.
The violations included failing to properly train employees who handled hazardous materials, improper labeling of waste, and a problem with the assessment of a new hazardous waste holding tank.