U.S. EPA, American Samoa reach revised settlement with Starkist

News Release from EPA, 12/26/2017

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reached a revised $6.5 million settlement with StarKist Co. and its subsidiary, Starkist Samoa Co., to resolve federal environmental violations at their tuna processing facility in American Samoa.

In addition to the $6.3 million penalty announced in September, Starkist will pay $200,000 to address alleged Clean Water Act (CWA) violations found before the original consent decree was finalized by the court. The American Samoa government has also been added as a co-plaintiff in the revised action, formalizing its role as a partner in the implementation of the settlement. Under the agreement, Starkist will pay $2.6 million to American Samoa and $3.9 million to the United States.

As specified in the original consent decree, the company will also provide $88,000 in emergency equipment to American Samoa for responses to chemical releases.

“This revised agreement commits Starkist to addressing stormwater pollution, which will provide important protection for Pago Pago Harbor,” said Acting Regional Administrator Alexis Strauss with the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.  “Working with our valued partners at American Samoa EPA, we will monitor the company’s progress toward full compliance with this very significant settlement.”

“Pago Pago Harbor is our greatest natural resource,” said American Samoa EPA Director Ameko Pato.  “We are firmly committed to working with EPA and Starkist to ensure that this local treasure is protected for generations to come.”

The additional violations included unauthorized stormwater discharges to Pago Pago Harbor from Starkist’s stormwater system. The revised consent decree requires Starkist to obtain authorization for its stormwater discharges and take steps to reduce and eliminate discharges to the harbor.

After full implementation of the wastewater treatment system upgrades, the facility’s annual discharge of pollutants into Pago Pago Harbor, including total nitrogen, phosphorus, oil and grease, and total suspended solids, will be reduced by at least 85 percent – more than 13 million pounds.

Starkist Samoa Co. owns and operates the tuna processing facility, located on Route 1 on the Island of Tutuila in American Samoa. Starkist Samoa Co. is a subsidiary of StarKist Co. which is owned by Korean company Dongwon Industries. StarKist Co. is the world’s largest supplier of canned tuna. Its American Samoa facility processes and cans tuna for human consumption and processes fish byproducts into fishmeal and fish oil.

The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is subject to a 30-day comment period and final court approval. A copy of the proposed consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. A summary of the settlement will be available in Samoan on that website.

For information on the original settlement, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/starkist-enhance-environmental-and-safety-measures-facility-american-samoa

For more information on the agreement and on the statutes it covers, please visit:  https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/starkist-clean-water-act-clean-air-act-resource-conservation-and-recovery-and-emergency

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Amata Welcomes Funds to ASG and Applauds Justice Department Decision

News Release from Office of Rep Amua Amata, Dec 28, 2017

Washington, D.C. -- Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed an important decision by the Justice Department adding the American Samoa Government to the agreement between StarKist and federal agencies. This action, in response to inquiries by Congresswoman Amata and Governor Lolo, redirects $2.6 million in agreed upon funds back from Washington to American Samoa.

"This is great news for American Samoa, and keeps a substantial portion of these funds in the islands, as it should be," said Aumua Amata. "I believe the Justice Department made the right decision to bring American Samoa into this agreement, and I applaud everyone involved for their willingness to consider all the facts and make this key change."

The new agreement retains the same total dollar amount, but the inclusion of ASG allows approximately one third of the funds to stay in American Samoa.

"All parties to this agreement should be complimented for their willingness to include these considerations of the impact on American Samoa, and come to an agreement including the local community," continued Congresswoman Amata. "I'd like to add a particular thank you to Governor Lolo as we worked together to highlight these facts and bring about a resolution that makes a real difference for the territory. I would also like to thank Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale for his hard work and dedication with the Department of Justice and the EPA to ensure that ASG received these funds."

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Sept 20, 2017: StarKist Co. Reaches Settlement with DOJ, EPA