Company Fined for Breaking Formaldehyde Rule with Imported Composite Wood Products
New Jersey company is fined for failure to comply with Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2019.
The Environmental Appeals Board approved a settlement resolving violations of the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2010 with Global Sourcing Solutions (GSS), A Division of Turner Logistics, LLC (GSS) of Montvale, New Jersey. The settlement implements the Formaldehyde Rule (effective June 1, 2018) and is the first enforcement action taken by the agency for violations of Formaldehyde regulations.
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature with a strong odor. It is a chemical often found in resins used in manufactured, composite wood products like hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard, among others. Exposure to the chemical can cause serious health effects such as skin, eyes, nose, and throat irritation as well as some types of cancers.
Because of these hazards, the Formaldehyde Rule regulates how much formaldehyde can be released from composite wood products. The Rule also established a program in which independent certifying organizations will verify that composite wood panel producers like Global Sourcing Solutions comply with the chemical release limits. In the recent settlement, it was found that Global Sourcing Solutions indeed violated this Rule.
However, GSS agreed to take corrective measures to come into compliance with the Rule and will pay a penalty of $544,064. The company did not admit liability but has agreed to modify its practices in construction projects to assure future compliance with formaldehyde requirements.
For more information, read the Consent Agreement or the EPA’s account of the settlement.