WEST POINT, PA--Merck, the global pharmaceutical research company, has agreed to resolve violations of
federal and state water pollution control regulations arising from spills including a June 2006 spill at its pharmaceutical plant outside of Philadelphia.
In one of the most comprehensive remediation settlement agreements for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Merck will pay $10 million to put into place systems that will prevent future dangerous discharges at their facility. Merck will spend approximately $9 million for extensive environmental projects. A consent decree requires Merck to pay $1,575,000 in penalties and civil damages for past violations divided as follows: $750,000 to the United States; $750,000 to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania; $75,000 to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
The Merck facility, a pharmaceutical plant located in West Point, Pa., houses pharmaceutical and vaccine research as well as the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and vaccines. The facility consists of approximately 400 acres, 110 buildings employing approximately 8,500 employees. Merck discharges pollutants from this facility to the Upper Gwynedd Township Publicly Owned Treatment Works (UGT POTW). The treated effluent is discharged into the Wissahickon Creek, a tributary of the
Schuylkill River.
The federal court complaint, filed today, along with the settlement papers, alleges that Merck violated the Clean Water Act with several discrete discharges that caused numerous pass through and interference violations at the UGT POTW:
-- On June 13, 2006, Merck discharged potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) that reacted with the chlorination at UGT POTW and after discharge caused extensive fish kills in the Wissahickon Creek on June 14th and 15th; also causing the Philadelphia Water Department to close its Schuylkill River drinking water intake on June 14th and 15th; and causing PA DEP to issue health advisories to ban all recreational uses on the Wissahickon Creek for the period June 14, 2006, through July 10, 2006.
-- On Aug. 8 and 9, 2006 Merck discharged a large batch of spent substrate used for vaccine production which when treated at UGT POTW caused extensive foam discharge into the Wissahickon Creek.
-- On Aug. 16, 2006, Merck discharged a large amount of cleaning agents that when treated at UGT POTW caused extensive foam discharge into the Wissahickon Creek.
U.S. Department of Justice
www.usdoj.com
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