The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled a case with Veris Gold USA Inc. for failing to properly report toxic chemical releases and waste management as mandated by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The company agreed to a civil penalty of $182,000.
The violations involved late and incorrect reporting for 10 chemical compounds including arsenic, cobalt, copper, cyanide, lead, mercury, nickel, propylene and zinc at Veris Gold’s Jerritt Canyon mine 50 miles north of Eureka in Elko County. Veris Gold USA is the 100% owned subsidiary of Canada’s Veris Gold Corp.
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, facilities manufacturing, processing, or using toxic chemicals over certain quantities must submit annual reports estimating the amounts released to the environment, treated or recycled on-site, or transferred off-site for waste management. These reports are submitted to the EPA and the state or tribal with jurisdiction over the facility. The EPA compiles this information into a national Toxics Release Inventory database.
