Summary

On August 27, 2014, Action Manufacturing (Action), Atglan, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a five year term of probation and was assessed a criminal fine of $1.2 million for the illegal transportation and storage of explosive hazardous materials. In addition, the company agreed to appoint a new president and chief executive officer.

Action previously pled guilty to criminal charges that 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.

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 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 July 2013 without the required Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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. 

We conducted this investigation with the EPA – Criminal Investigation Division.