Lilly Agrees to $337K in Federal Fines for Hazardous Air Pollution
From Indianapolis Star (IN) (February 26, 2011)
Feb. 26--Eli Lilly and Co. has agreed to pay a $337,500 fine
to settle a federal complaint that its manufacturing plant on South
Harding Street released dangerous chemicals into the air in
2006.
The fine resolves an Environmental Protection Agency
investigation of the plant. Government inspectors had found that
the plant released hazardous air pollutants, including acetonitrile
and methanol, into the air.
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker said it has since fixed the
emissions problem. It said it discovered the problems itself, when
it noticed a computer modeling error, and voluntarily reported it
to the government.
"This is important to us. We want to have a safe workplace for
our employees and protect the environment," said Lilly spokeswoman
Carole Copland.
She said the chemicals are commonly used in drug
processing.
The plant, known as the Lilly Technology Center, is at 1555 S.
Harding St. At the time, Lilly made osteoporosis drug Forteo and
other prescription drugs there, the complaint said. Lilly would not
confirm what drugs are now made there.
The EPA inspected the plant for several days in the summer of
2006 and found that chemical emissions exceeded federal standards,
subjecting the company to civil penalties worth tens of thousands
of dollars a day.
The EPA complaint also said Lilly failed at the time to
identify all equipment subject to federal standards on equipment
leaks.
The settlement agreement was filed Wednesday in U.S. District
Court in Indianapolis. The court still must approve it, said a
spokesman with the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Posted: February 2011
