SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that they have reached multiple administrative settlement agreements with various companies across the Southeast region in 2024. The EPA said that these agreements resolved allegations that the companies violated the Tier II reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 312 and the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements of EPCRA Section 313. This includes four companies located in Georgia: Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation: Nidec manufactures automotive safety electronic controls including occupant detection, radar technology and the safety system ECU, according to their website. On July 8, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation located in Suwanee, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for lead compounds processed at the facility during calendar years 2021 and 2022. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $34,730. Purafil Inc.: Purafil manufactures air-filtration chemicals and equipment to remove gaseous contaminants and particulates from places such as airports, schools, office buildings, museums and government buildings, according to their website. On July 8, 2024, a CAFO was filed in the matter of Purafil, Inc. located in Doraville, Ga. the EPA said. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Sections 312 and 313 of EPCRA for failure to timely file Tier II and Form R reports, the EPA said. The CAFO requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $82,700. Hussmann Corporation: Hussmann provides merchandising cases, refrigeration systems, aftermarket services and other items for food retailers, according to their website. On July 16, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Hussmann Corporation located in Suwanee, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for chromium, copper, and manganese processed at the facility during calendar year 2021, the EPA said. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $74,123. OFS Fitel, LLC: OFS Fitel manufactures and provides optical fiber, optical fiber cable, connectivity, FTTX and specialty photonics solutions, according to their website. On August 19, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding OFS Fitel, LLC in Norcross, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 312 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Tier II forms, the EPA said. The CAFO also resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for chlorine and hydrofluoric acid otherwise used at the facility during calendar year 2020. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $38,852. "Citizens have a right to know about dangerous and toxic substances in their communities,” said Keriema Newman, director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division in EPA’s Southeast region.  “There are homes, schools, businesses, fire stations, and churches near these facilities – which in some cases are near population centers. EPA's action underscores the importance of companies understanding the hazards of using hazardous substances like compounds containing lead and using that knowledge to undertake safe handling and management practices to protect public safety.” The purpose of submitting Tier II forms is to provide state, tribal and local officials and the public with specific information about potential hazards, the EPA said. This includes the locations, as well as the amount, of hazardous chemicals present at facilities during the previous calendar year. Over 90,000 Georgia residents told to shelter in place after fire at chemical plant Under federal TRI regulations, companies that use certain listed toxic chemicals must report their releases of those chemicals each year to EPA using EPA Form 9350-1 (Form R), the EPA said. This information serves as the basis for the TRI, which is a collection of data that can be readily reviewed by communities, government, and industry. The EPA said that with the information being publicly available, companies have an incentive to reduce harmful chemical use and improve their environmental performance. TRI reporting informs surrounding communities about a facility's toxic chemicals that could potentially harm public health and the environment and offers transparency, they said. Other southern companies fined include: The Carlstar Group - On April 15, 2024, a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) was filed in the matter of The Carlstar Group located in Clinton, Tennessee. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failure to report certain chemicals on the company’s Form R. The CAFO requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $66,392. Karnak-South, Inc. – On June 11, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Karnak-South, Inc., located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of the EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene processed at the facility during calendar years 2020 and 2021. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $12,639. Purafil Inc. - On July 8, 2024, a CAFO was filed in the matter of Purafil, Inc. located in Doraville, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Sections 312 and 313 of EPCRA for failure to timely file Tier II and Form R reports. The CAFO requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $82,700. Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation – On July 8, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation located in Suwanee, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for lead compounds processed at the facility during calendar years 2021 and 2022. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $34,730. Englander Enterprises – On July 8, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Englander Enterprises, Inc., d.b.a. EEI Manufacturing Services, located in Clearwater, Florida. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for lead processed at the facility during calendar years 2021 and 2022. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $38,425. Hussmann Corporation – On July 16, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Hussmann Corporation located in Suwanee, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for chromium, copper, and manganese processed at the facility during calendar year 2021. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $74,123. OFS Fitel, LLC – On August 19, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding OFS Fitel, LLC in Norcross, Georgia. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 312 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Tier II forms. The CAFO also resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for chlorine and hydrofluoric acid otherwise used at the facility during calendar year 2020. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $38,852. Koch Foods of Gadsden – A CAFO was filed on August 21, 2024, in the matter of Koch Foods of Gadsden located in Gadsden, Alabama. The CAFO resolves an alleged violation of Sections 312 EPCRA for failing to timely file its Tier II form. The CAFO requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $1,500. Loparex LLC – A CAFO was filed on August 21, 2024, in the matter of Loparex LLC located in Eden, North Carolina. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Sections 313 of EPCRA for failing to timely file its Form R. The CAFO requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $33,710. Refresco Beverages US Inc. – On August 26, 2024, a CAFO was filed regarding Refresco Beverages US Inc., located in Lakeland, Florida. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Section 313 of the EPCRA for failing to submit the required Form R for nitric acid otherwise used at the facility during calendar year 2020. The CAFO requires the company to pay a penalty of $25,110. Bharat Forge PMT Technologie – A CAFO was filed on August 26, 2024, in the matter of Bharat Forge PMT Technologie located in Surgoinsville, Tennessee. The CAFO resolves alleged violations of Sections 312 and 313 of EPCRA for failing to timely file its Tier II and Form R. The CAFO requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $39,445. For more information about the Toxics Release Inventory Program, visit the EPA's TRI webpage. For more information about EPCRA, visit EPA’s EPCRA webpage. You can follow the EPA Region 4 on Twitter, now known as X, and on Facebook and Instagram.