Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort, LLC, located in Middlefield, Connecticut. The order addresses an alleged violation of the Clean Air Act's General Duty Clause due to the company's handling of anhydrous ammonia. Powder Ridge cooperated with the EPA's order and promptly corrected the violation.
"EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment – and one way we do this is working to reduce the risk of chemical accidents," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This order will ensure workers and people visiting the park are made safer from the dangerous risks of anhydrous ammonia. Owners of winter sports parks and ice rinks should take note and ensure they are following these requirements. With climate change on the rise, slope-side ice and snow-making units may become more common, so it's important to make sure they are designed and used in a safe way."
Powder Ridge operates an outdoor sports recreation park at 99 Powder Hill Road in Middlefield, offering year-round activities including skiing and tubing during winter. The company uses an ice-making unit that employs an ammonia refrigeration system containing approximately 1,200 pounds of anhydrous ammonia.
The EPA inspected Powder Ridge to assess compliance with both the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act’s General Duty Clause requirements. EPCRA Section 312 mandates facilities annually submit a "Tier II" form reporting hazardous chemicals for local emergency response planning purposes.
The General Duty Clause requires facilities using extremely hazardous substances like anhydrous ammonia to:
- Identify hazards resulting from accidental releases using appropriate hazard assessment techniques;
- Design and maintain a safe facility by taking steps to prevent releases;
- Minimize consequences if accidental releases occur.
The EPA alleges that its inspection revealed violations related to hazard identification for Powder Ridge’s refrigeration system. Appropriate techniques include standard industry checklists and "what-if" analyses which guide safety improvements.
In response, Powder Ridge submitted a missing EPCRA Tier II form, hired a third-party expert for a Process Hazard Review of their refrigeration system, and coordinated with local emergency responders for potential ammonia release scenarios.
Ski resorts increasingly use ammonia refrigeration units on slopes or have on-site ice rinks utilizing chemicals like anhydrous ammonia subject to General Duty Clause or EPCRA requirements.
This action is part of the National Compliance and Enforcement Initiative for Chemical Accident Risk Reduction.
Ammonia poses significant health hazards due to its corrosive nature affecting skin, eyes, lungs, flammability at certain concentrations in air, explosive potential if released in enclosed spaces with ignition sources or exposed vessels containing it subjected to fire.
