FAA Proposes $227,500 Civil Penalty Against AmplaChem Inc. for Alleged Hazardous Materials Violations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $227,500 civil penalty against AmplaChem, Inc. of Carmel, Ind., for allegedly violating Hazardous Materials Regulations.

The FAA alleges that on April 10, 2013, AmplaChem knowingly offered an undeclared hazardous material shipment to FedEx for air transport from Carmel to Vietnam. The shipment included Boron Tribromide, a corrosive material and toxic inhalation hazard that is forbidden from being transported aboard any commercial aircraft, and two other corrosive substances.

The shipment was discovered smoldering and burning as it was being unloaded from the aircraft in Vietnam, and FedEx notified the FAA.

The FAA alleges the shipment was not accompanied by shipping papers to indicate the hazardous nature of its contents and was not properly marked, labeled or packaged under the Hazardous Materials Regulations. Additionally, the FAA alleges that AmplaChem did not provide emergency response information with the shipment and failed to ensure its employees had received required hazardous materials training.

AmplaChem plans to meet with the FAA in mid-June to discuss the case.