USAO, Eastern District of Pennsylvania - Press Release

Summary

On May 21, 2014, Action Manufacturing (Action), Atglen, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to criminal charges related to the illegal storage and transportation of hazardous materials. The charges arose from the illegal storage of explosive hazardous waste and the unsafe transportation of explosive materials on public roads without the proper labels, markings, or declarations. As part of the plea settlement, Action has agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine. In addition, Action's president has agreed to resign. 

Action produced explosive arming and timing devices for use in munitions and weapon systems, as well as warhead assemblies, detonators, and fuses. Action's manufacturing process generated explosive waste in various forms and from various waste streams that are deemed hazardous under federal law due to the product's characteristics of reactivity. 

Action admitted that it illegally stored explosive hazardous waste between 1980 and approximately July 2013 without the required Environmental Protection Agency permits. In addition, Action admitted that it transported military grade explosives without hazardous material shipping papers required by the Pipelines and Hazardous Material Safety Administration.