The company agreed to pay the penalty to resolve toxic chemical violations.

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was breached by the company for failing to immediately notify the EPA of research which indicated a substantial risk found in chemicals being tested.

The chemicals were being tested for possible use as surface protection masonry protection, water repellents, sealants and paints.

The Toxic Substances Control Act requires companies to inform EPA when they have research demonstrating that a chemical could pose a substantial risk to human health and the environment.

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance assistant administrator Cynthia Giles said: “DuPont failed to comply with the law and notify EPA that it had information on chemicals that could pose a risk to human health and the environment.

“EPA is serious about making companies follow our nation’s laws and protecting public health.”

In May 2006, DuPont notified EPA that it had failed to submit chemical toxicity and subsequently submitted the studies in July 2006.

The studies contained information on chemical toxicity when certain chemicals were inhaled.

EPA determined that 57 of the studies contained information on chemicals that could present a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment.

Alison Brown

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