Oregon food company fined $100,000 for mishandling chemicals

KLCC | By Nathan Wilk

Published August 22, 2022 at 4:34 PM PDT

Smith Frozen Foods produces and supplies frozen vegetables. Anhydrous ammonia can be used as a fertilizer.

An Oregon company has agreed to pay $100,000 for violating the Clean Air Act.

Smith Frozen Foods Inc. is based in Weston, a small town in Umatilla County. According to EPA inspections from 2016, the company improperly handled anhydrous ammonia, a chemical that can lead to lung damage and death.

The EPA says the company failed to manage and implement a Risk Management Plan for accidental chemical release, and broke seven federal provisions.

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Nathan Wilk

Nathan Wilk is a freelance reporter and former reporting intern. He began in radio at a young age, serving as a DJ and public affairs host across Oregon. He is a senior at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.

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